A-Level & International A-Level Results 2025: What Parents and Students Need to Know

Results are now out for A-Level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A-Level results have been released for students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with grades published at 08:00 BST on Thursday, 14 August. International A-Level candidates received their results a day earlier.

The 2025 results bring a close to a challenging academic year and signal the start of important choices for thousands of young people. Whether your child is celebrating top grades or feeling disappointed, understanding the options available - from appeals to resits - can help you guide them towards their next step.

Understanding A-Level & International A-Level Grade Boundaries

Every year, students and parents pore over grade boundaries - the mark thresholds that determine whether an exam paper earns an A*, a B, or falls below a pass. 

These boundaries are set by assessment specialists at each exam board, based on the difficulty of that year’s papers and the overall performance of the cohort.  For both A-Levels and International A-Levels grade boundaries can shift slightly for each exam season.

👉 AQA Grade Boundaries

👉 Edexcel Grade Boundaries

👉 OCR Grade Boundaries

Parents often find that these small margins can be the deciding factor in whether their child gets into their preferred university course. It’s also why, for students who choose to resit, targeted preparation aimed specifically at gaining those extra few marks can be so effective.

When the Grade Isn’t Right: Appeals and Reviews

No marking system is perfect, and every year there are students whose grades don’t seem to reflect their ability. The first step in such cases is to speak to the school or college. They can request a review of marking from the exam board, checking that the examiner applied the mark scheme correctly and consistently.

If the review doesn’t resolve the issue, a formal appeal can be made to the exam board, and in the UK, the process can ultimately be referred to the regulator, Ofqual. For International A-Levels, appeals are handled by the awarding body, but the principle is much the same.

Life After an Unexpected Result

Not getting the grades you need for university is tough, but it isn’t the end. Some admissions offices show flexibility, particularly if students are only one grade off. Others steer applicants towards related courses.

For many, UCAS Clearing is the next step. Running from July to October, it matches students with courses that still have vacancies. Far from being a “last resort,” Clearing has become a mainstream route - and in some cases, an opportunity for students to find a course better suited to them.

Resits are another option. UK A-Level resits will mean the next exam season, of May/June 2026, whilst International A-Level students can also re-sit in January and Oct/Nov, depending on the subject. Many students approach resits with fresh motivation, having seen how small gaps in marks can cost them their university place.

And then there are alternative paths: apprenticeships, foundation courses, or taking a gap year to reassess. The landscape is far broader than it once was.

Why Timing Matters in Preparation

For students considering resits, timing is everything. Immediately after results day, they know exactly what went wrong - which questions they struggled with, where time ran out, which topics they hadn’t mastered. That makes this the perfect window to put a plan in place.

Students may worry that resits mean starting over from scratch. In reality, success often comes from targeted improvement: focusing on specific weak areas, building exam technique, and practising under timed conditions.

Parents often find that getting support in place early leads to the best outcomes. In some cases, that might mean arranging one-to-one help to address specific problem areas, practising past papers under timed conditions, and building exam confidence back up before the next sitting. For International A-Level students, especially those studying outside the UK, finding tutors who understand the exact syllabus and exam board approach can be a major advantage.

The International A-Level Landscape

International A-Levels are increasingly popular, with students around the world using them to access UK universities. The syllabuses are broadly similar to domestic A-Levels, but slight differences exist: more exam windows, subtle changes in assessment style, and different approaches to grade boundaries.

For students outside the UK, these factors can add an extra layer of pressure. In some cases, English may not be their first language, and mastering the phrasing expected by examiners becomes just as important as knowing the subject content. Parents often find that specialist support - particularly tutors familiar with International A-Level syllabuses - helps level the playing field.

👉 Cambridge International A-Levels → Cambridge Assessment International Education.

👉 Pearson Edexcel International A-Levels → Edexcel International A-Level information.

Looking Ahead

Results day is not the end of the story. For some students, it’s the first chapter in a university journey. For others, it’s the start of a rethink - whether that means Clearing, resits, or a completely different path.

For parents, the key is to provide perspective. The coming weeks are about making informed decisions, not rushing into the first available option. Support networks - whether that’s school staff, university advisers, or subject specialists - are there to help.

And for students preparing to try again, the lesson is that targeted, focused work pays off. Sometimes, it’s not about overhauling everything they’ve learned, but about fine-tuning the details: exam technique, timing, structure, and the confidence to show what they can do when it matters most.

Frequently Asked Questions: A-Level & International A-Level Results 2025

• When do A-Level resits take place? Resits for UK A-Levels will be held in May and June 2026. International A-Level students may also be able to sit exams in January or October/November, depending on the exam board.

• How are International A-Levels different from UK A-Levels? International A-Levels are designed for global students. They follow similar syllabuses to UK A-Levels but have multiple sittings each year and are often tailored to students for whom English is not a first language.

• What is UCAS Clearing and how does it work? Clearing is a process run by UCAS to match students without confirmed university places to courses that still have vacancies. It runs from July to October and can be used by students who didn’t meet their offers or who want to change direction after results day.

• Can I appeal my A-Level or International A-Level grade? Yes. Start by speaking to your school or college, who can request a review of marking from the exam board. If you are unhappy with the outcome, the appeal can be escalated to the exam board and, in the UK, ultimately to Ofqual.

• Is private tuition worth it after results day? For many students, especially those resitting exams, personalised support provides structure, exam-focused preparation, and confidence. Even a few extra marks can result in securing a university offer next time round.