Have a plan A, B and C
Prepare for different scenarios; stay focused and think about your options. You could put together a list of alternative universities, pin their web pages to your browser and have their clearing phone lines to hand in case you don’t get the results you expected.
Make a note of when hotlines open
Every university will have different hotline hours during Clearing. Most will stay open for extended periods on results day, but make it part of your research to check their opening hours.
Visit our contact page for more information on our hotline opening hours.
Are your details correct?
Save yourself any additional stress on the results day by making sure your UCAS contact details are updated in advance.
Have your info to hand
Have all your important information and documents to hand before you start making calls. These include:
- UCAS personal ID number
- clearing number (available on UCAS Hub if you haven't met the offers for your first and insurance choices, or have changed your mind and want to use Clearing)
- your results
- your personal statement – you may be asked questions about this
- details of any other qualifications – they can sometimes be useful.
Check course vacancies regularly
Course availability will change quickly during Clearing, especially on results day. Universities update their course vacancies in real time on their websites, so make them your first port of call. Bear in mind that popular courses fill quickly, which is why it’s a good idea to have other options in the bag.
Step out of your comfort zone
You can take this as a chance to really develop yourself and try new things. Try to enter Clearing with an open mind and think about the other ways you could achieve your goals. It's all to play for!
Find ways to keep yourself calm
You might feel anxious on the run-up to results day, so whether it's a teacher, friend or family member, make sure you have people around you that you can turn to for support. We also have some tried and tested tips for keeping calm during Clearing that involve plenty of sleep and food!
And finally, make time for congratulating yourself on your achievements. Whichever university you go to, you'll enjoy new experiences, meet new people and work towards an exciting future for yourself!
