Every year, when International A-level (IAL) and GCE results come out, we always hope students have achieved the grades they wanted. But not everyone will have got the grades they wanted or needed. Here we bring together decades of counselling advice and experience as teachers, parents and examiners to list out the options you have with the various pros and cons for each.
From the moment results are released to your next enrolment — ITS is with you every step.
Understand exactly what your grades mean for your university offers and future options.
We outline all available paths — from re-sits and appeals to alternative study routes.
Decades of experience with A-level examiners and university admissions counsellors on staff.
Take confident action whether applying to a new university, retaking, or switching pathways.
Select the situation that best matches your results, or browse all options below.
There is the question of proportion and material impact. Take a typical 3 A-level combination. If you needed to score ABB and you got AAB, does this change anything very much? It means you have met your conditional offer. Presumably you applied to the university because you really want to study there. Did that change? Probably not, or at least not because of the grade.
Of course it might bring into reach a university that you did not apply to because you thought you had no chance. Now they may accept you. You may be happy with the one you have but wonder whether you could get one that would make you even more happy. Well it could be an option to try and apply. Come and speak with us to assess the value of this.
However, if you smashed your expectations — say you got BBB when you expected CCD — then this is probably a moment to step back and think through what to do. If you were very practical in your university applications and never applied to a dream place because you thought you'd never be 'good enough'? You just proved yourself wrong and you should seriously reconsider. Depending on both country of destination and the rules of entry for different universities, you could find yourself at a completely different destination. This is where a counsellor comes in and proves invaluable.
First question to ask if you missed your grades is: what are the implications? If the grades do not materially affect your plans then do not worry about it. It's disappointing for sure but it does not change what you are able to do. Believe us, no-one, especially you, will care about your A-level grades within a year or so. Don't let it change your life.
Take the positive from experiencing, and getting over, disappointment and move on. For many universities, the offer they make is unconditional so they may also be disappointed but they still accept you. However, if missing your grades changes the university offers you have, you may need a clearly thought out strategy. Read on…
If you needed BBC and you got BBD or BCC for example, then you are one grade out. You may have missed a first choice course but still have a back-up you can access. You can reassess whether you still want to follow this course though. You may want to appeal to your first choice and see if they will still accept you. You may want to ask for a re-mark of your exam to see if the grade will go up. Or you may want to rethink where to go and what to do. The rules are complex and the implications varied. Come and see us to find out all your options.
If you needed grades for a conditional offer and clearly missed them then you need to rethink what you do for the coming year. This could include a different study route such as doing retakes or a Private Candidate Programme or a foundation course (see next question) to change your university application strategy, or starting a bachelor but via a non-traditional pathway such as BTEC. Or you could shift your study into an area for which you have more passion, perhaps something that has been a hobby until now. Or of course you could put study on hold completely and go into work with a view to resuming study/training later with a career focus when that is more clear to you.
Come and see us to work through what might work best for you. Don't just try and muddle through on your own. We will guide you on what an appropriate choice might look like for you personally.
Foundation courses have increased in popularity in recent years. They last for one year and you are treated as any first year undergraduate but you just go to different lessons. In the UK this would usually involve quite a lot of English language and/or prep for academic writing as well as lessons on the subject stream you are interested in. They are designed for students who did not take a mainstream academic school pathway or who struggle to learn in English. As with all courses, they are good for some people and not for others.
Our years of experience have shown us that many people actually can follow a typical mainstream path in terms of the exams they get but may need a non-traditional way to do it. ITS has a one year International A-level Science programme which incorporates Maths plus 2 or 3 from Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The class is a maximum size of 10 students and the classes follow a non-traditional structure. Come and see us to discuss these foundation course options.
This is much the same procedure as if you missed a conditional offer. You need to ask the university to release you from any offers you have qualified for and then follow the re-application procedure. Again, there can be many pitfalls so come see us to make sure you follow the right path.
Applicants for US courses need to take either the SAT or the ACT. This is the main route of entry. However, school grades are important as well. US students have a grade point average (GPA) but you have your A-level grades. You could either just take an SAT or ACT course and apply using your existing grades, or you could also take one or two A-levels to boost your academic score alongside your SAT or ACT. We have a huge variety of options for you to apply to the US to suit all kinds of time frames and budgets. Come and see us.
Whether your A-level results open new questions or close old doors, ITS has a range of programmes and support services to help you move forward with confidence.
A full private candidate year to re-sit or add subjects at ITS — Hong Kong's only non-traditional official A-level centre. Choose a two-year programme or a personally tailored plan to strengthen your university application.
Learn More →More than just a vocational route—BTEC is a practical, project-based qualification that opens the same university doors as A-Levels, while also offering advanced diploma options (HNDs) for direct career progression.
Learn More →Expert guidance for UK UCAS Clearing, US applications, and non-JUPAS routes in Hong Kong.
Learn More →Planning to apply to a US university? You'll need the SAT or ACT. Take a preparation course with ITS alongside your existing A-level grades, or add one or two A-levels to boost your academic profile.
Learn More →You could shift your study into an area for which you have more passion, perhaps something that has been a hobby until now. Or put study on hold and go into work with a view to resuming later when your career focus is clearer.
Join us for a free online webinar designed for students and parents who are planning for U.S. college admissions
本次網上講座將透過 Brown、University of Chicago、MIT、Caltech 等院校的招生 案例，帶你深入了解美國頂尖大學的招生理念，拆解不同院校真正重視的學生特質。歡迎 預約。
