WHATEVER your expectations and plans for you're A-level results, you need to be prepared.

Follow this step-by-step guide to help you through.

  • Don't panic!
  • Be around! Don't go on holiday at the time the results come out. Admission tutors want to talk to you and not your parents.
  • If your results match or are higher than your university place offer - congratulations - you're in!
  • If your results are not as high as the offer you hold, check if your firm or insurance choice will still offer you a place on the course you want. You can only enter clearing if you are rejected by the courses you hold offers for.
  • Get busy! Although you will need a Clearing Entry Form (CEF) to get a firm offer through clearing, you don't need to wait for the form before starting to talk to admission tutors to see whether your results are likely to get you an offer.
  • Be quick! This year vacancies will be published on the same day as the A-level results are received in schools, and students will be checking the lists to see what is available. Popular courses will have few, if any vacancies and any that there are will be snapped up quickly.
  • Think laterally! If you don't have the grades to get into the most popular courses or universities it may still be possible to achieve the same outcome by taking a course which is less popular, but still covers similar material.
  • However, be careful! Don't be panicked into taking the first offer that comes along. Talk it over with your parents and your careers advisers. You can always re-take your exams next year if you can't find a course through clearing that is right for you.
  • Be prepared! Have your UCAS number, the grades you received in your exams and if possible a copy of your UCAS form, whenever you phone a university. If you speak to an admission tutor during clearing you may well be interviewed over the phone when you call. Having your details in front of you it gives you confidence. You may also need to convince the tutor of your motivation towards the course you are applying for if this is very different from your earlier application.
  • Try to visit! If things go well when you contact an admission tutor try to get to see the institution as quickly as possible. Not only can you often take your CEF with you and get it processed straight away, you also have the opportunity to look around and get a 'feel' for the place.
  • Be persistent! The situation in clearing changes hour by hour. Sometimes you will find a course that was full will have a vacancy a few days later as someone has dropped out.

John Wright, head of UK and EU recruitment at the University of Surrey said: "Clearing gives you another opportunity to find a course where there are still vacancies.

"If you are to find a place which is right for you through clearing then you must plan your strategy and talk to friends and advisers.

"You can find the right course through clearing if you go about it in the right way, but you can be panicked into taking the wrong course or studying in the wrong place if you don't think the options through."