Best result: you have got the grades you need to get into the university which has given you a firm offer of a place, or your insurance offer.

Congratulations, you are on your way, have a good time.

It is even possible your place will be confirmed if you did not quite make the grades.

You can check the progress of your application on the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) website - even on a WAP-enabled mobile phone.

But what if your grades are not good enough to meet any of your existing offers?

You have various options.

You could ask for your papers to be re-marked.

This costs money - the amount depends on the exam board.

It also takes time - you are unlikely to get the new marks before September.

And be warned: your marks can go down as well as up.

If you still want to, ask your school or college for advice.

Re-sits

You could try again, by re-sitting some or all of your exams.

Re-sit dates vary depending on the exam board - usually they are in November and January.

You do not have to return to your old school or college, you might just revisit your work, perhaps with the help of a private tutor.

Or, if you have the money, you might go to one of the private "crammers" that specialise in boosting grades.

Clearing

But you can also press ahead with going to university this autumn by going through the clearing system to find another course or institution.

This system, designed to match students with universities which have spare places, is not the "last chance saloon" - last year more than 43,000 people found a place through clearing.

There is plenty of advice available if you need it

If you are eligible for clearing the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) will automatically send you a form - this should arrive by 27 August.

As mentioned, Ucas's website has an enquiry service which lets university applicants check the status of their offers - and, new this year, you can even do it on a WAP mobile phone.

Those eligible for clearing can find their clearing entry number, then search the course vacancy service.

This accesses the official vacancy information for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK, updated constantly by more than 300 institutions.

Applicants can search for suitable vacancies by keywords, universities and colleges, geographical regions and the type of course they want.

The web version goes live early on Thursday 15 August, the day A-level results come out; the WAP version that afternoon.

And you can even talk to a real person by calling the Ucas helpline: 01242 227788 or fax 01242 544961.

For the second year running, Ucas is also hosting the BBC One Life results helpline, which is free: 0808 100 8000 - there is an associated BBCi website.

A service for Scottish institutions only - Scottish Clearing - is active already.

Ucas recommends that people do not panic and think they have to take the first vacancy they can find.

You have had enough of full-time education

Most people who have done advanced qualifications will be intending to go into higher education, but you might be keen to start earning.

Looking for work has never been easier, thanks to the internet, and unemployment is relatively low.

Focus on things you are likely to enjoy and be good at, otherwise you could soon end up demoralised.

Many employers prefer to receive applications on their own forms, so you will look a lot more clued-up if you check this before sending off a speculative letter.

You haven't applied for anything yet

You might have found that your grades are better than you had expected and are now wondering for the first time about going to university.

It is still not too late to apply for a place at university or college.

Most degree courses require at least two A-levels at grade E or above, or the vocational equivalent. For HND courses, it is one A-level or the equivalent.

You need to contact Ucas straight away - as it is now late in the application year you will automatically go into the clearing system (see above).

You don't want to do anything for a while

Or nothing terribly academic, anyway: more and more people are taking a year out - in part to earn money to sustain them as they clock up those student debts.

But it is also a chance to see the world, learn new skills or do voluntary work.

You can take a year out in many different countries as well as in the UK.

How you spend the year is entirely up to you. Make the most of it - you are unlikely to have such a golden opportunity again.