We asked five leading Head Teachers for their advice on how to prepare for GCSE and A-Level exam results day in August
Andrew Johnson

St Benedict?s School, Ealing
When it comes to your A-Levels, think through all your options in advance. If your grades exceed your offer, is Adjustment a desirable option" And in the event of not getting your required A-Level grades, what is your Plan B" Would you benefit from a gap year, doing voluntary or paid work, perhaps overseas" Is re-taking and reapplying an option" Also, try to get your results as early as possible on the day ? you typically have a window of 24 to 48 hours in which to act if you need to find an alternative course. Remember, these things have a habit of working out for the best, and in a year?s time everything will look different. Julian Noad

Oswestry School, Shropshire
IGCSE and pre-U results are released on 14th August, and A-Levels and GCSEs on the 16th and 23rd respectively. Whatever you await, have realistic expectations and learn about the options available. Get plenty of rest to avoid heightening emotions with fatigue, and tune out results traffic on social media. Remember that GCSEs in England are now graded 9 to 1, where 9 and 8 are equivalent to the old A*. IGCSEs from Cambridge, as well as GCSEs in Northern Ireland and Wales still retain the letter grades. Also consider that there are many paths to any goal and that one result won?t shape your whole life.

CJ Townsend,

Felsted School...