Tens of thousands of students are awaiting their A-level results, and this year it looks like it is going to be a tight squeeze for university places. BBC News website readers have been telling us about their A-level hopes.
Maria Burton, from Bromley, is hoping for an AAB.
Maria Burton is hoping for an AAB
Maria is waiting for her A-level results on Thursday. She did very well at GCSE but "doesn't expect or hope to get A*s". Maria would like an AAB.
Many people she knows, however, are expecting exam excellence and Maria "fears that those who do outstandingly and get AAA won't get the recognition they deserve, which undermines the effort that the vast majority of candidates get, regardless of the grades they receive."
Lewis Bartlett, from Leeds, fears results day as he needs an A*
Lewis Bartlett's single greatest fear is getting an A*
Lewis studied Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths, Biology and General Studies. Part of Lewis' offer to study Natural Sciences at Selwyn College, Cambridge is an A* grade in one of three specified subjects, alongside two A grades and a B grade in some of the other subjects he is taking.
The A* is Lewis' "single greatest fear" because the requirements for it are so much more difficult to attain when compared with other grades.
Lewis says it's possible to "emerge with 94.5% across the whole A-level but still not have an A*, while someone at 90% across the whole A-level could achieve an A*".
He's concerned students are finding themselves in situations where they are applying for specific degrees, but due to the way the A* is awarded the parts of the course which relate to their degree choice are actually less important in terms of achieving their offers.
James Bolger, from Bedford, had an unconditional offer withdrawn
James Bolger will go through clearing on Thursday
James received an unconditional offer from Bath Spa University in February. He took his A-levels last year and achieved a C for Drama, a C for IT and an E for General Studies.
But James said Bath Spa "withdrew the offer" a few months later "due to cutbacks". James is upset because he had been looking forward to going to university and has saved up some money whilst working during his gap year.
When UCAS publish the results on Thursday he will be ringing up Bath Spa, Winchester, Staffordshire, Coventry and Thames Valley universities to try to secure a place on a Drama and Theatre course but says "I'm not very hopeful about clearing given the current situation."
Jaber Baksh, from Ilford, is very stressed about clearing
Jaber, who studied Politics, Economics and Business Studies, at Tower Hamlets Sixth Form, is hoping to get a place at the University of Westminster through clearing.
"I'm looking for a university place via clearing and I am extremely concerned that I may not get a place in university this year" says Jaber.
Jaber is concerned he would feel lost for a year. He's already 19 and says it will mean he isn't entitled to any government based education schemes if he doesn't make the grades. "Getting a job seems nearly impossible" he adds.
This 19 year old student describes the experience as "very stressful indeed". He needs a BCC to apply for clearing at the University of Westminster and will be picking up his results from school on Thursday.
Alice Wrench, from Bedfordshire, is hoping for C grades
Alice is hoping to get all C grades for Travel and Tourism, Sociology and Art and Design. This, she hopes, would be enough to secure her place at Bournemouth to study Travel Management.
"I have worked hard for two years to get this far" Alice says.
"Waiting for A-level results is tough enough and knowing that clearing is now limited makes the whole process more frustrating and scary".
Alice was a student at Luton Sixth Form and hopes to be going to university this September. She believes universities should be able to recruit as many students as possible and "the government should get behind them in terms of funding and support".
Alice wishes good luck to all the students!
David Lukic, from Dewsbury, has an offer of AAA to study at Oxford
David Lukic is hoping to study at Oxford
David studied five A-levels which include Maths, Further Maths, Computing, General Studies and Physics. With the results he gets on Thursday he's hoping to study Law at Oxford.
"I have an offer of AAA to study at Oxford, so I don't need to get any A*s in my A levels this year. However, I've been trying to achieve this highest grade despite not needing it for university entry" be said.
"I have friends who are very worried about getting an A* because their universities require it, and I'm very happy that I'm not in their situation."
