A Level Results Day 2022: What to do if you’re not ready for uni

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05 Aug 2022

You’ve probably marked Aug. 18, 2022 as A Level Results Day 2022 on your calendar. It’s the day you’ll finally be receiving the results for an exam that you’ve likely spent countless hours studying (and maybe crying) for.

(If you’re reading this before the release of your results, check out this article to help you prepare for A Level Results Day 2022.)

So, what do you do once you’ve gotten your results? First of all, congratulations. A Level is one of the toughest school-leaving exams, and the fact that you have made it this far is an achievement that should be recognised.

A common route for students is to proceed with their higher education, such as pursuing a bachelor’s degree, a diploma, professional qualification or even enrolling in a polytechnic. Upon completing one of the said programmes, some may opt to continue with their master’s or step into the working world.

However, the fact that you’re still reading this likely means you’re having second thoughts about attending university and don’t feel ready for it yet.

That’s OK. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider doing other things before revisiting the decision to continue your studies once you’re more certain about what it is you wish to pursue.

If you’re not ready for university, here are some of your options to consider:

A worker prepares drinks during a media preview at Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Source: Scott Olson/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

A Level Results Day 2022: 3 steps if you’re not ready for university

Take a gap year

One of the possible reasons you’re not ready for university could be that you’re not sure what you want to pursue. If that’s the case, take some time off to try different things to figure out what it is you’re passionate about.

You can take up different part-time jobs, spend more time on hobbies, attend workshops or even travel. Taking time to try new things is not only a great way to recharge, but to mull things over.

Get some work experience

There are various ways to gain work experience, from taking up part-time jobs to securing an internship.

Gaining work experience is useful and can contribute to your skillsets, portfolio and experience. It’s also a great way to gain insights into a field you’re interested in — this helps to give you a clear idea of what career and/or education you would likely enjoy pursuing.

Plus, your work experience can also contribute to your university life: you’ll gain social skills, develop a better understanding of your lessons and courses and know how to manage your time better.

You can pursue short online courses to broaden your knowledge. Source: Nikolay Doychinov/AFP

Pursue online courses

Now that you have lots of time on your hands, why not pursue short online courses to broaden your knowledge and develop newfound skills?

It’s also a fantastic way to explore different fields and interests to determine which appeals to you most.

There are plenty of websites that offer short online courses. You can learn a new language, improve your writing skills, learn business techniques, study nature or learn how to code. The best part? Many of these courses are free and even award you with certificates.

Here are some websites worth checking out: