Be prepared

It's natural to feel uptight about your results, but there's a great deal that you can do beforehand to help sleep at night. Start by drawing up a list of contacts you might need to call upon when your grades have come through. It's also not too late to get in touch with your careers advisor if you're after a last-minute chat.

We're here for you, too. You'll find more peace of mind by listening to our podcast about A-level results, and read these articles:

• Exam result stress - Recognise it and then deal with it.
• Nervous? - Understanding anxiety.
• Prevent those panic attacks - Or at least cope with them when they happen.
• Good mood food - Eat well, stay positive.

On the day

Don't think of it as the end of one stressful episode in your life. Results are really the beginning, so it's vital that you don't just get hammered with your mates straight away but review your options carefully. Talk to your careers advisor or form tutor - they'll be on hand on the day, so keep that beer on ice until you know what next step you'll be taking. You could also call the Surgery exam results helpline on 0808 100 8000.

• Low A-level results? - TheSite explains your options, and covers Scottish Highers, too.
• Low GCSE or SQA results? - Don't panic!
• Better results than expected? - Want to continue in education?

What next?

Results are all about options, whether you got the grades you wanted, exceeded your expectations, or messed up badly. So don't despair if you didn't do as well as you'd hoped, or feel somehow you're a failure compared to your mates. Exams can always be retaken, and if they're not for you there's always an alternative way for you to shine.

• Finished: what next? - Your options clearly laid out.
• Getting a job - Move up that career ladder.
• TheSite's Gap Year section - Travel, think, plan.
• Alternatives to university - You don't have to go, you know.
• Nervous breakdown - Hopefully you won't need this one, eh?!

Updated: 19/07/2011