For tens of thousands of youngsters every year, the A level results are a disappointment: they will not have done as well as they had hoped.

The most likely crucial impact is that they will not have the grades they needed to get into the universities which had made them so-called provisional offers - a promise of a place if they achieved a certain result.

It is possible that they will still get in - it is certainly worth contacting the university's admissions department to see. Failing that, there is the process of clearing - matching up students without places and institutions with spare places.

That is going to be complicated to an extent this year by industrial action over a pay dispute by admissions tutors who are members of the Association of University Teachers.

Take time

They have been called on by their union to boycott admissions inquiries on Thursday and Friday.

In practice this is likely to have minimal impact because it involves only the 'old' (pre-1992) universities. Clearing mostly involves the 'new' universities - the former polytechnics, which are not affected by the action.

In any case the advice from all quarters is that taking a day or two to think about what to do next is no bad thing. The system should be back to normal on Monday.

There is also advice from other quarters. The BBC's Student Choice '99 Website has plenty [click on the graphical link, left, or the Internet link, right].

Don't despair

The Samaritans have put a special page on their Website to help young people cope with the emotional stress of exam results.

"Exam results are emotionally a very testing time," said Alison Weisselberg of The Samaritans.

"We want anyone who feels distressed around this time to know that they are not alone. The Samaritans are here 24 hours a day to provide confidential support."

What is clearing?

Clearing works by matching up students who have not secured a place on a course with institutions which have spare places. It is handled, as with normal applications, by Ucas - the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

More than 50,000 students a year find places through this route.

Who is it for?

Clearing applies to people not already holding offers, who applied after the final deadline, or who had conditional offers not confirmed when the results came out - for example, someone who had been offered a place if they got two Bs and a C in their A levels but who achieved, say, three C grades.

Those who are eligible will be sent what is known as a clearing entry form automatically by Ucas.

What to do

First, fill in the form.

Then find out which courses have vacancies. Official lists of these will be in some newspapers, on Ceefax on BBC2 pages 700 to 799, and on the Ucas Website at http://www.ucas.ac.uk/, along with more advice.

Telephone the institutions offering the courses you are interested in. Ucas advises doing this yourself: do not leave it to teachers or parents because admissions tutors are far less likely to be impressed if they cannot hear from you yourself.

If you are asked to send in your clearing form, they are in effect making you an offer. Do not necessarily jump at the first one you get. But if you are sure, then go ahead.

It is always worth taking the trouble to visit the place, have a look around, ask questions. Nobody wants you to jump in without considering all the options, then drop out because you are not happy there.

All being well, the college or university will check what you have put on your clearing form and confirm to Ucas that you have a place. Ucas will confirm that in writing to you.

Can't cope?

There is an alternative known as central clearing by which you can let Ucas try to place you. This is really intended for overseas applicants or for those who are, unavoidably, away during clearing.

It is much better to do the job yourself.