Results day is always an emotional time for teens – and parents. You might want to make their worries about the future disappear, but it’s hard to know how. There could be a lot of unknowns for you to work out together too – like what happens if they don’t get the grades they were expecting. Can they still go to uni or study the subjects they want? What options have they got?
It’s a lot to take in. So, to help you through, we’ve pulled together our top tips on supporting your teen before, during and after results day.
How to prepare your teen before results day
In the weeks before they get their results, your teen will be feeling worried for a whole host of reasons. Will they get the grades they want? Will you be disappointed? If they’ve applied to uni, will they get in? It’s not hard to see why all these worries can feel overwhelming.
1. Reassure them that they can’t disappoint you
Part of their anxiety might be about disappointing you (even if they haven’t said so). Remind your teen that you’ll support them whatever grades they get, as it can help take the pressure off. You could also remind them of all the things they’re good at beyond just academic performance. It’s about helping them get perspective and building up their confidence before the big day.
2. Remind them that setbacks are normal
Teens often feel like they’re not good enough – especially when things don’t go as planned. The good news is that you can help them see setbacks in a different light. The key is changing the story they’ve learned about mistakes and failures.
Instead of: ‘I must not make mistakes’ or ‘If I make mistakes then I’m a failure’ help them see mistakes as a completely normal part of learning.
You can help to reframe their thoughts by sharing stories of your own setbacks with them. Or, if it feels right, you could share stories about famous people who’ve made mistakes or had setbacks, which actually led them to better things.
3. Let them know there’s always a plan B
A lot of the time, plan B turns out to be much better than plan A! That was the case for our tutor Tommy who had to pick a uni through Clearing – it ended up being the best thing to happen to him. He loved Leeds and really enjoyed his course.
Let your teen know that if they don’t get the grades they were hoping for, it doesn’t mean they can’t go to uni. You can remind them if they’re really unhappy with their results that they’ll have the chance to resit the exam next term too.
It’s also a good idea to chat about other options that are out there, like doing an apprenticeship. They can earn a degree and get work experience at top companies like Google and Rolls-Royce without facing a mountain of debt.
As we all know, life comes with twists and turns. It will really help to explain that they’ve always got choices.
4. Encourage them to do fun summer activities.
Worrying about results day won’t make it come around any sooner. Planning fun summer activities can help to distract your teen. Encourage them to see friends, go to the cinema or head outside for walks and adventures together.
The night before results day, make sure your teen has plenty of good quality sleep. The last thing they need is to feel tired on top of their worries.
How to support your teen on results day
You can find out from your child’s school exactly how they’ll be getting their results. This could be by email or post as well as in person, so it’s best to check.
1. Have a plan for the day
Give them as much control as possible on the day. Little things like asking them what they want for breakfast, and what they’d like to do before and after getting their results can help them feel in control.
If they need to go into the school to pick them up and they’re already feeling worried about their results, it might be best to go in early. This way they can get what they need and leave quickly if they don’t want to share their results with other teens in their year.
2. Have a results day checklist
There are a few technical things to double-check like making sure they have the right login details and timings for their results, so it’s best to make a checklist.
- The phone number of your child’s school – whether they’re receiving their results from home or getting them from their school, call to confirm what time they’ll be released.
- Your child’s photo ID – take this with you if you’re going to the school to get their results in person, just in case the school asks for it.
- Their school login details – if results are being shared online, make sure they have the website and logins to access them easily.
- Information on appeals – if your teen is unhappy with their grades and wants to appeal their results, they’ll need to contact their school or college. This is so that their teachers can then contact the exam board. The UCAS site has a lot of useful advice on how to do this.
- Phone numbers of universities (for A Level students) – if they miss a university offer, your teen can call their chosen university (or any universities that they applied for outside of their firm or insurance choice). Some universities may have places that have opened up or can share information about Clearing.
- The link to UCAS clearing (for A Level students) – the UCAS Clearing process means that they could still get a place at a good university this year, even if they didn’t quite achieve the grades for that course. There’s also a Clearing app that your teen can download which shows all the universities with places for their ideal course.
3. Encourage them to focus on themselves
If they’re unhappy with their results, encourage them to stay off their phone for a little bit. It might be hard for them to see how their friends have done on social media. And there might be questions like, ‘How did you do?’ that are tough to stomach if they’re feeling disappointed.
What matters most is their next steps. Once they’ve had a bit of time to take it in, have a chat about the future. What do they want to do? How can they still reach their goals?
4. Do something to celebrate them
A great way to reassure your teen – whatever results they’ve got – is to have something fun planned for later on. This could be making their favourite meal, watching a film or celebrating with friends. Let them lead the way if they ask for a bit of space too.
How to help your teen after results day
Once the dust has settled, you can help your teen plan out their next steps – whether they’ve achieved the results they want or not.
1. Get them excited about the future
After the rush of results day has died down, offer to help them with their next steps. You could start by researching their future options online together, or get them excited for the subjects they’ll be studying next year.
2. Talk to their teachers if they’re not happy with their results
Your teen can retake their exams if they’re not happy with their results. The best person to talk to is their subject teacher – they might be around on results day, or you or your teen can email them to get their advice before making any final decisions.
If a student doesn’t pass their Maths or English GCSEs, they’re required to retake them. National retake exams will happen in November. Reach out to your child’s school for more information on this as the deadline for those subject entries will be early October.
Students can also resit any of their other GCSE exams at this time. These exams will run throughout November and the deadline for entries will be mid-September. Check with your teen’s school for exact dates, as these should be made available to you well ahead of results day. Find more about resits here.
3. Get advice from people who have been through it
Talking to someone who’s had the same challenges as your teen and made it to the other side can be encouraging. At MyTutor, our tutors studied the same courses within the past few years – and they’ve been tutoring teens who’ve been through exams, resits and Clearing.
Tutors can help your teen navigate their next steps and get them on track for the next academic year. You can check out our online mentoring tutors here. We can help find the right tutor for your teen and get them the support they need.
Overall, whatever results they get, remind your teen that you’re proud of them. Revising and sitting exams is tough. But with the right advice and your support, they’ll be able to get through results day and face the next chapter of their lives with positivity and confidence.
Want to carry on their learning across the summer or get ready for the new academic year? Find the right tutor for them here.