A Level Physics Results Not What You Expected? Here’s What to Do Next
A Level results day can bring a huge mixture of emotions. After two years of studying, revision, past papers and exams, seeing a Physics grade that is lower than you hoped for can be incredibly disappointing.
If that has happened to you, the most important thing to remember is this:
Don't panic, and don't assume that your plans are over.
Whether you have narrowly missed a university offer, received a Physics grade that seems unexpectedly low, or simply haven't achieved the result you were aiming for, there are still several options available to you.
Here is what I would recommend doing next.
1. Check Your UCAS Account First
If you have applied to university, your first step should be to check your UCAS application.
You may have missed the grades stated in your offer but still have been accepted.
Universities consider applications individually, and missing an offer by one grade does not automatically mean that you have lost your place.
Check whether:
your firm choice has confirmed your place
your insurance choice has accepted you
your application is still awaiting a decision
you are eligible to enter Clearing
If your place has already been confirmed, congratulations — the university has accepted you and there may be nothing further you need to do.
2. If Your University Place Hasn't Been Confirmed, Contact the University
If your application is still pending, or you have narrowly missed the conditions of your offer, it can be worth speaking directly to the university.
Have your UCAS Personal ID and results ready.
Be polite and concise and explain that you are still very interested in the course.
Depending on the course, your overall results and the number of available places, the university may still be considering your application.
Don't assume the answer will be no before you have checked.
3. Find Out How Close You Were to the Next Physics Grade
If your A Level Physics result was lower than expected, find out your actual mark, rather than looking only at the grade.
There is an important difference between missing the next grade by one or two marks and being substantially below the grade boundary.
For example, if you received a B but were extremely close to an A boundary, it may be worth discussing the result with your Physics teacher or exams officer.
They can help you decide whether requesting your exam scripts or considering a review of marking would be sensible.
4. Consider Getting Your Physics Papers Back
If your result seems particularly surprising, your school or college can request access to your marked exam scripts.
This can be very useful.
A teacher can look through the paper and compare the marking with the published mark scheme before deciding whether there is a reasonable case for requesting a review of marking.
This is particularly worth considering where the result is significantly different from the standard you were consistently achieving in lessons, mocks and past papers.
However, an unexpected result does not automatically mean that the paper has been marked incorrectly.
The script should be looked at objectively before deciding what to do next.
5. Should You Request a Review of Marking?
A review of marking can be appropriate in some circumstances, but it shouldn't automatically be requested simply because you are close to a grade boundary.
A review checks whether the original marking contains errors.
Importantly, your mark can increase, decrease or remain unchanged following a review. This means you should discuss the potential risks and benefits with your school or college before proceeding.
If your university place depends on the outcome, ask your school about a priority review of marking as soon as possible.
There are specific deadlines for post-results services, so this is something to investigate promptly rather than leaving for several weeks.
6. Look at Clearing — Even If It Wasn't Part of Your Original Plan
If you haven't secured your firm or insurance university place, Clearing can open up another route.
Universities use Clearing to fill remaining places on their courses, and there can be excellent opportunities available.
Don't think of Clearing as simply accepting whatever course is left.
Look carefully at:
the course content
university facilities
accreditation where relevant
location and accommodation
graduate prospects
whether you would genuinely be happy studying there
Physics also opens the door to a wide range of related degrees, so it may be worth considering courses such as:
Physics
Astrophysics
Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematics
Materials Science
Computer Science
Natural Sciences
A slightly different course or university may ultimately suit you extremely well.
7. Don't Rush Into a Degree You Don't Want
Results day can create enormous pressure to make a decision quickly.
But university is a major commitment.
If the alternatives available through Clearing aren't courses or universities you genuinely want to attend, taking a year out can be a perfectly sensible option.
Depending on your circumstances, you could use that time to gain work experience, strengthen your university application, develop relevant skills or reconsider exactly what you want to study.
One disappointing results day does not mean that you have to abandon your original ambitions.
8. Could You Resit A Level Physics?
Resitting A Level Physics is another option.
Whether this is the right decision depends heavily on your circumstances.
If Physics is essential for the university course or career you want to pursue, and you know that your result does not reflect what you are capable of achieving, a resit may be worth considering.
Before deciding, investigate the entry requirements of the universities you are interested in and check their policies on resits.
Then think carefully about why the original result was lower than expected.
Was it:
gaps in your Physics knowledge?
difficulty applying knowledge to unfamiliar questions?
mathematical skills?
exam technique?
timing?
insufficient past-paper practice?
revision that began too late?
difficulty interpreting mark schemes?
one particularly difficult paper?
Simply repeating the same revision strategy for another year is unlikely to produce a dramatically different outcome.
A resit year needs a clear plan.
9. Don't Let One Grade Convince You That You're “Bad at Physics”
This is something I feel particularly strongly about as a Physics teacher.
A Level Physics is a challenging qualification.
Students are required not only to remember substantial amounts of content, but also to apply their knowledge mathematically, interpret unfamiliar situations, analyse data and communicate their reasoning precisely.
An exam result measures your performance in a particular set of papers on particular days.
It does not provide a complete measure of your intelligence, potential or ability to succeed in a scientific career.
If Physics is something you genuinely enjoy and want to pursue, a disappointing result should prompt you to reassess your next step — not automatically abandon the subject.
What Should You Do Today?
If you have just received an A Level Physics result that wasn't what you hoped for, work through these steps:
Check your UCAS application and see whether your university place has been confirmed.
Speak to your school or college and obtain your marks.
Contact your university if your decision is still pending or you need clarification.
Ask about accessing your Physics scripts if the result seems unexpected.
Discuss a review of marking if there is a genuine reason to believe marks may have been missed.
Investigate Clearing and make a shortlist of courses you would genuinely consider.
Think carefully before making a rushed decision.
Most importantly, get good advice before deciding what to do next.
A Setback Doesn't Have to Change Your Destination
Results day can make everything feel very final.
It isn't.
Students reach Physics, engineering and other STEM careers through many different routes. Some go straight to their first-choice university. Others enter through Clearing, change course, take a gap year or resit an examination.
The route matters far less than it feels like it does at 18.
If your A Level Physics results haven't gone as planned, give yourself a little time to process the disappointment — and then start looking at the options that are still available to you.
There may be considerably more of them than you initially think.
Need Help With A Level Physics?
I'm Sarah Chauhan, a Physics specialist teacher and AQA Physics examiner with over 15 years' teaching experience.
I work with A Level Physics students who want to strengthen their subject knowledge, mathematical skills and exam technique, including students preparing to resit A Level Physics.
If you're considering a resit or want support with A Level Physics, you can find out more about A Level Physics tuition with Physics Mastery Academy on the website.
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