Results Day 2022: What is clearing, A Level grade boundaries Birmingham UCAS Codes and clearing hotlines

A Level results day 2022 is here, and students in Birmingham will find out their results and which university they have been accepted into within the next few days and weeks.

For students who don’t get into their chosen university, there may be some concern.

However, there is no need to panic, as universities still have spaces open to them through the clearing system.

Ahead of results day, here’s what you need to know about clearing, how to get signed up, and how clearing works with the universities in Birmingham.

When is A Level Results Day?

Birmingham students will be able to pick up their A Level results from their schools and colleges on Thursday, 18 August 2022.

Results can be picked up from 8am on results day.

What is Clearing?

You can apply for a course through Clearing if you fail to get onto the course from your chosen university.

You can use the Clearing service if you have done any of the following:

• completed a UCAS application
• do not get any offers
• your offers are not confirmed
• you’ve turned down all the offers you received

When is Clearing open?

The Clearing service is open from the middle of July and runs through to the end of 18 October, giving you plenty of time to get your applications sorted.

You can find out which courses have Clearing spaces through UCAS from mid-august through to late September.

How many offers can I accept?

If you receive more than one offer through clearing, you can only accept one.

When your place is confirmed, you have to accept it and cannot look for another place.

How can I contact UCAS?

You can contact the UCAS Exam Results Helpline for free advice if you’ve received exams results that were not as good as you were expecting.

UCAS Exam Results Helpline - 0808 100 8000

How can I sign up to clearing at universities in Birmingham?

Birmingham has three top universities that each offer a wide range of courses and degrees. If you want to look into clearing for these universities, here’s what you need to know.

Aston University

At present, there is little information on the clearing section of the Aston University website. 

However, you are encouraged to check back in on Thursday, 18 August which is of course A Level results day.

UCAS code: A80

Clearing phone number: 0800 917 5923

Birmingham City University

The Clearing section of Birmingham City University’s website is full of important information ahead of results day.

You can calculate your UCAS points to see which courses are available, find out more information on how clearing works, and read stories of students in years gone by who were successful through Clearing.

UCAS clearing code: B25 BCITY

Clearing phone number: 0121 331 6777

University of Birmingham

To register for Clearing at the University of Birmingham, you can sign up to the latest news and updates through their official website.

The website has all the information new students will need, including how to get signed up for accommodation and also what it’s like to live in Birmingham.

UCAS code: B32

Clearing phone number: 0121 604 1040

What is the UCAS points calculator?

The UCAS points calculator is a handy section on the UCAS website which allows you to add together the UCAS points you will receive for each A Level or equivalent course you have studied.

What are the Grade boundaries for A Levels in 2022?

Ofqual, the board that assesses exams and qualifications in the UK, announced earlier this year that results in summer 2022 will be higher than when summer exams were last sat, but lower than in 2021, when grades were awarded by teacher assessment.

This is due to a change in the nature of the assessment process.

Schools’ and colleges’ results are highly likely to be lower than in 2021 when exams did not go ahead. Very few schools or colleges, if any, will get higher results than in 2021.

An Ofqual spokesperson said: “Grade boundaries change each year to reflect any differences in the demand of the question papers.

“Results [in 2022] will be part-way between those of summer 2019 and summer 2021. It is unlikely that results will be precisely at a midpoint between summer 2019 and 2021 – overall or for individual subjects. This will also likely vary at different grades, because it will depend on how students have performed.

“Results in summer 2021 were higher than in 2019 to a greater extent in some subjects than others. Our approach this summer allows us to begin to re-establish pre-pandemic relationships between subjects.

“Students’ grades will be determined only by the number of marks they achieve on the assessments. It doesn’t matter where in the country students are located, or the type of school or college they attend; the same grade boundaries will apply to everyone taking the qualification.”