EXCITEMENT and relief were the overwhelming emotion as college students across Basingstoke received their A-level results on Thursday, August 18.
Thousands of students across the UK collected their A-level results with many securing places at their dream university, while others look forward to a well-earned gap year.
It’s the first time since 2019 that exams have taken place due to the pandemic. In 2020 and in 2021, exams were even scrapped, so it was a big day for many students who were sitting exams for the first time in a while.
Students of Queen Mary's College (QMC) celebrated 99 per cent A-level pass rate, 57 per cent of them scoring A*-B grades and 81 per cent getting A*-C.
The Gazette spoke to several young people at QMC, who were pleased to be able to gather outside the college to share their results and celebrate together.
Charlie Bowden, who has already secured a place at Oxford University to study history – his favourite subject, scored excellent results.
“I wasn’t expecting to do so well based on my predicted grades. But I’m really pleased with the results,” Charlie said.
“And I just got an email sometime ago from Oxford. It was quite a surprise. I’m interested in history probably from my primary school and I’m so excited to go there.
Charlie said his parents were trying to distract him from any tension on the eve of the results, but he still woke up and found himself “quite stressed”. He added that he will celebrate the results with a meal with his family, and telling “everyone about Oxford”.
READ MORE: A-level results day 2022: North Hampshire students receive results
Emily Torr was quite emotional after seeing her good results. She is going to Lancaster University next to study physics with astrophysics.
“I joined QMC for its atmosphere and I’m so happy with everything I achieved here,” said Emily.
Manraj Gill, who is going to University of Southampton to study maths and physics, got 4 As and a B.
Commenting on his results, Manraj said: “When I wrote the exams, I thought some went better than others. But looking at my results, they all went pretty well. During exams there were times I was quite stressed out with working late in the night, but I managed to keep upbeat and come away with happy results.
Vanessa Evdokimova said she is “over the moon” looking at her results.
“Since I started college I was aiming for one A* and three As and that’s exactly what I got,” Vanessa said.
Vanessa said she got the grades required to go to Cardiff University to study bio medical science.
Aidan Cruddace also said he got exactly the results he wanted, adding: “This was really what I was hoping for last night.”
Aidan, who had a stressful last night, is now happy and is ready to go to study pharmacology at Kings College London.
His friend Mia Paganuzzi will study biochemistry at Royal Holloway. She got a confirmation from the university just minutes before she had her results in hand.
Mia said: “There were a couple of exams I was worried about. The ones I got out and felt ‘aargh, it didn’t go as well as I thought it would’. But, it turns out, they were good. So I’m happy.”
Thomas Ward said he got more than what he needed for university.
“I can’t be happier, hard work paid off. I’m going to University of Southampton to study computer science. I’m very excited to start that in September.”
Charlotte Crisp and Jessica Jesudian said they were “super happy” with the results. Both are going to Kingston University to do arts courses - Charlotte for fine arts and Jessica for illustration and animation.
“We didn’t actually pick the university together. It was just a happy coincidence,” Jessica said.
QMC’s principal Mark Henderson said he was overjoyed with the results.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud of both students and my staff. Results are brilliant. They have done phenomenally well. These students hadn’t sat for a formal exam before they came here. So, it’s amazing.
“It’s so nice to see so many of them here celebrating with their friends before they go off to universities or higher apprenticeships or jobs.
“I feel a mixture of absolute pride and relief.”
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