STUDENTS will soon find out whether they have secured a place at their preferred university, with A-level results just around the corner.

Thursday, August 12, is results day for hundreds of thousands of teenagers – and for those seeking to remain in education, Ucas plays a big part of proceedings.

Father and teenage son high-fiving while doing homework on a laptop.The Ucas Hub tells you where you stand with your university choices Credit: Getty

What is the difference between A-level results and a Ucas score?

A-level results are the traditional letter grades from A* to E that students receive from your exam boards.

Ucas score, also called tariff points, is a numerical value assigned to those letter grades, allowing universities to compare different types of qualifications equally.

Each letter grade you achieve in a full A-level translates into a specific number of UCAS points:

  • A*: 56 points
  • A: 48 points
  • B: 40 points
  • C: 32 points
  • D: 24 points
  • E: 16 points

Your total Ucas score is calculated by adding the points of all your eligible qualifications together.

Your total Ucas score can also include points from other qualifications outside of your A-levels, such as Extended Project, AS-levels, T-levels, BTECs or music exams.

You can use the official Ucas calculator to total up your projected score.

What time does the Ucas Hub update on A-level results day 2026?

Students will be able to access their applications from 8am when the embargo is lifted.

Individual records typically process across the system between 8am and 8.15am.

However, with thousands of students logging in simultaneously, expect slow loading and be patient.

Avoid refreshing the page constantly, as this could worsen server traffic.

The Ucas customer experience centre phone lines open at 8.30am if you need direct troubleshooting assistance.

The Ucas Hub tells you where you stand with your firm and insurance choices.

It will not show your actual grades – those only come from your school or college.

It could show one of the following outcomes:

  • Your place at your first choice is confirmed
  • You have been placed at your backup
  • You have been offered a changed course, which might mean a different course, a different start date or a different point of entry
  • Your application is still awaiting a decision
  • You are eligible for Clearing

You then need to check the details of the offer and do what the university asks, which may include proving your qualifications or meeting any outstanding conditions.

A changed-course offer requires a quick decision – you normally have five days to accept or decline, and letting it sit could cost you the place.

Awaiting a decision does not mean you have been rejected.

Universities sometimes take students who have narrowly missed an offer, so it is worth getting on the phone.

Students can only use Clearing once their status says they are eligible, or when they have formally declined or released themselves from a place they are holding.

Clearing choices will become available to students from 1pm on results day.