By Sandra Price

Results day can be a mix of excitement, relief, anxiety, and sometimes disappointment—all in the same moment. For many students, these grades feel like the culmination of years of effort; for families, it’s a moment of pride and anticipation. At our school, we believe that no matter the outcome, your results are just one part of your academic journey, not the whole story.

This guide will walk you through how grades are determined, what they mean, and how to navigate your next steps—with an emphasis on looking after your wellbeing along the way.

How A-Level and IGCSE Grades Are Determined

A-Level and IGCSE grades are based on raw marks (the actual number of points you score in each exam) and grade boundaries (the minimum marks needed for each grade). These boundaries shift slightly each year to account for differences in exam difficulty.

What Examination Grades Show Beyond Knowledge

Your grades don’t just show what you know—they highlight the skills you’ve built along the way:

  • Resilience: Managing two years of learning and revision is no small task.
  • Analytical thinking: Breaking down problems and making sense of complex information.
  • Time management: Juggling multiple subjects and deadlines.
  • Communication: Expressing your ideas clearly in writing and speaking.

Even if your grades aren’t exactly as you hoped, these skills are valuable for university, work, and life.

Understanding Differences in Performance Across Subjects

It’s normal to have stronger grades in some areas than others.

  • If you have an A* in Maths but a C in English, it might reflect different strengths—numerical reasoning versus extended writing.
  • A consistent performance across subjects might suggest adaptability.

When it matters:

  • Highly selective courses (like Medicine, Law, Engineering) often care most about specific subject grades.
  • Broader systems, like US admissions, look at the whole academic profile, meaning one lower grade may not be a deal-breaker.

If You’re Close to a Grade Boundary

Sometimes, you may miss a grade by just one or two marks. It’s natural to feel frustrated, but it’s worth knowing your options.

Step 1: Check how close you are

  • Your school’s exams officer can share your marks and boundaries.

Step 2: Decide if a review makes sense

  • Reviews are more likely to change outcomes in essay-based subjects (e.g., English, History, Art) than in highly objective ones (e.g., Maths multiple-choice).

Step 3: Understand the process

  • Terminology: Review of Marking (formerly “remark”)
  • How it works: A senior examiner re-marks your paper.
  • Outcome: Your grade could go up, down, or stay the same.
  • Timelines: 1–4 weeks, but priority reviews are faster for urgent university decisions.
  • Costs: Around CHF 50–150 per paper (refunded if your grade changes).

For A-Level students, if you have a conditional offer:

  • Contact your university the same day to explain the situation and ask if they can wait for the review outcome.
  • Request a priority review through your school.

First Steps After A-Level Results

Once you have your grades:

  • Check your UCAS Track (UK) or other admissions portal to see if offers have been updated.
  • Contact universities directly if your results are close to the requirement.
  • For Swiss or EU universities, confirm what documents they need and whether official certified copies are required.

Setting Expectations Before Results Day

You can’t change your results after the exams, but you can prepare emotionally:

  • Think through a Plan A and Plan B so you’re ready for either outcome.
  • Remember that results are a measure of performance on a few days, not your worth as a person.
  • Avoid comparing yourself too much to peers—your journey is your own.

Managing Your feelings and Taking Next Steps

Give yourself permission to celebrate: If you have achieved the results you had hoped for, it is good to take a few moments to celebrate your hard work and dedication and to share this with your loved ones.

  • Give yourself space and talk it through: If your results are not what you had hoped, take a day or two before making big decisions. Share your feelings with someone you trust—a parent, teacher, or friend.
  • Seek guidance: No matter your results, it is important to be certain of your next steps. ISZN has a great team that is ready to support you as needed in making final subject or university options, or discussing new options that will help you to reach your goals.
  • in their education and careers.

Remember
Your results are just one part of your story. They don’t define your potential, your character, or your future. Whether you’re celebrating or recalibrating, there are always pathways forward—and we’re here to walk that road with you.