Didn't get the grades? What to do next

Results day didn’t go the way you hoped. That’s horrible, but it’s also really common, and it’s rarely the end of the road. Here’s what to do, step by step.

1. If you had a conditional offer, contact the employer

If an employer offered you an apprenticeship that depended on your grades, get in touch with them as soon as you can. Read your offer letter first so you know what it said.

Employers handle this differently:

• Some are strict. EY says its apprenticeship offers depend on getting the grades you predicted, it checks on results day, and it may withdraw the offer if you don’t.
• Some are more flexible. KPMG encourages people who are a few grades or points short to apply and explain their circumstances.

Be honest, explain what happened, and ask if there’s anything you can do, like starting on a different programme or applying again next year. The worst they can say is no.

2. Talk to someone

You don’t have to work this out on your own:

• Your school or college careers adviser. This is literally their job, and results day is when they’re busiest helping people.
• The official careers service where you live. In England, the apprenticeship helpline is 0800 015 0400 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
• People you trust. Family, friends, teachers.

3. Look at the routes that are still open

Lower grades close fewer doors than you might think.

• Apprenticeships that don’t ask for grades. In England, foundation apprenticeships for 16 to 21 year olds don’t need any grades. Lots of Level 2 apprenticeships across the UK have low or no grade requirements. See our guide to apprenticeships without GCSEs.
• Start lower and move up. If you missed the grades for a degree apprenticeship, a Level 3 or 4 apprenticeship can get you there later. Many employers accept a finished apprenticeship instead of grades. Balfour Beatty, for example, accepts a finished Level 3 apprenticeship for its higher and degree routes. Our levels guide explains how this works.
• Resit, then apply. If a specific grade really matters for the job you want, a resit can be worth it. If you’re 16 to 18 in England and start an apprenticeship instead, you’ll keep working on English and maths as part of it anyway.
• Apply for the next intake. Many employers recruit every year. A gap of a few months to get work experience can make your next application stronger.

4. Get your next application right

Whatever you go for next, put time into it. Use our guides to writing a CV, cover letters and application questions and how to apply. And use Employer Search to find employers whose entry requirements fit where you are now.

Grades are one part of an application, not the whole thing. Lots of employers care just as much about your attitude, your interest in the job and how you work with other people.