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A-levels: Students braced for exam results A-levels: Record numbers claim university places
(34 minutes later)
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are waiting to receive their A-level results, as universities offer a record numbers of degree places. Record numbers of students have been accepted on university courses, as hundreds of thousands of students are finding out their A-level results.
This year's results come as the cap on student numbers in England is lifted. The Ucas admissions service says there has been a 3% increase compared with results day last year, with 409,000 places now confirmed.
It has prompted speculation that universities will try to attract more students at the last minute. This year has seen the lifting of the cap on university places in England.
Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their results by post, email, and text message and heading into schools to collect them. Mary Curnock Cook, head of the admissions service, said the rising numbers were an "impressive outcome".
There are about 300,000 students waiting to hear their results on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are receiving their A-level results on Thursday.
The removal on limits on student numbers has prompted speculation that universities will try to attract more students at the last minute.
These initial figures from Ucas show a 5% increase in places for 18 year olds in the UK, but few among older age groups.
The gender gap has widened further, with 27,000 more women than men about to start courses this year.
The number of international students and from the European Union has also increased.
'Unconditional offers''Unconditional offers'
And with many places in higher education hanging on A-level grades, students will be on tenterhooks to find out where they will be spending their next few years studying. In the run-up to results day, some universities have been attempting to secure students on to courses by revising conditional offers into unconditional ones.
In the run-up to results day, however, some universities have been attempting to secure students on to courses by revising conditional offers into unconditional ones.
What if my grades are disappointing?What if my grades are disappointing?
Results Day: It was different in my day...Results Day: It was different in my day...
Admission tutors have been asking students to get back in touch with universities ahead of A-level results day.Admission tutors have been asking students to get back in touch with universities ahead of A-level results day.
And with no official limit on the number of places universities are permitted to offer, there is likely to be more scope for movement.And with no official limit on the number of places universities are permitted to offer, there is likely to be more scope for movement.
England's exams regulator, Ofqual, has said there has been a rise in the number of candidates sitting traditional subjects, such as maths and English.England's exams regulator, Ofqual, has said there has been a rise in the number of candidates sitting traditional subjects, such as maths and English.
This rise in popularity may also be linked to the most selective universities urging students to avoid subjects admission tutors perceive to be less rigorous.This rise in popularity may also be linked to the most selective universities urging students to avoid subjects admission tutors perceive to be less rigorous.
In 2011, the Russell Group of research-intensive universities published guidance advising students to take at least two choices from a list of "facilitating" A-level subjects.In 2011, the Russell Group of research-intensive universities published guidance advising students to take at least two choices from a list of "facilitating" A-level subjects.
Narrow missesNarrow misses
A Russell Group spokesman said: "The recent increase in the number of students taking facilitating subjects at A-level is welcome news."A Russell Group spokesman said: "The recent increase in the number of students taking facilitating subjects at A-level is welcome news."
Any unallocated university places are matched with students with the right grades through the process known as "clearing", run by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, Ucas.Any unallocated university places are matched with students with the right grades through the process known as "clearing", run by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, Ucas.
The spokesman added that some of these universities may have places available for students who had done better than expected, and for highly qualified students who had narrowly missed out on their first choice.The spokesman added that some of these universities may have places available for students who had done better than expected, and for highly qualified students who had narrowly missed out on their first choice.
"We encourage those students to get in touch with Ucas to see whether there may be places available to them," he said."We encourage those students to get in touch with Ucas to see whether there may be places available to them," he said.
Pam Tatlow, of university think tank Million Plus, said clearing would not be too different from previous years, despite the removal of the cap on student numbers,Pam Tatlow, of university think tank Million Plus, said clearing would not be too different from previous years, despite the removal of the cap on student numbers,
"A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said."A lot of activity has gone on before clearing in terms of unconditional offers, and as usual there will be competition and students will have choices to make," she said.
"Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them.""Students will have to keep calm and think about what is the right course for them."
Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next?Are you expecting your A-level results? Do you have a question about what to do next?
Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges.Send us your questions and we will put a selection of them to experts from Which? University and the Association of Colleges.
The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon.The Q&A will be published on the BBC News website on Thursday afternoon.
Send your questions to us in the following ways:Send your questions to us in the following ways: