We’re now at a point where we’re fewer than two weeks away from A Level exam results day. While you’ll have probably experienced that nervy morning of heading into school to pick up results from when you did GCSEs a couple of years ago, you’ll find that the rules of the game are a little different this time.

You see, if you’re planning on going to university, when you pick up A Level exam results the stakes are quite a lot higher than for GCSEs. Those grades are much more than letters: they’re your ticket to the student years of your life.

The importance of the day means that it can be difficult to know how to approach it. What do you to hide your nerves? How do you react if you get the grades you wanted? Or, more to the point, how should you react if you don’t?

In fact, there’s really a set of unwritten rules about etiquette for picking up A Level exam results. Unfortunately not everyone is aware of those rules, but it’s worthwhile to know them, not just so that you don’t cause bother other people who are also collecting theirs, but also so you will be prepared if something unexpected happens.

These, in our view, are the most important bits of A Level exam results day etiquette.

1) Don’t go in feeling worse for wear

Unlike when you got GCSE results, when you are about to receive your A Level exam results you’ll most likely already have turned eighteen. There is therefore a big tradition for students to go out and celebrate the day before they get their A Level exam results (as well, of course, as heading out for a bigger party once you’ve got the results envelope!).

While there’s no problem with this, it’s definitely a good idea not to overdo things on the Wednesday night. This is not just because bad news (not that we expect you’ll be getting any!) is harder to take when you’re not feeling tip-top, but you’ll also be less capable of launching yourself into the practicalities of clearing, should you need to.

2) Go somewhere private if you want to

Some people are happy to open that envelope containing their A Level exam results in front of dozens of people. But some people aren’t, and if you fall into this last category there’s absolutely no need for you to open the envelope in front of an audience if you don’t want to. Take yourself off to a quiet room or corner, and open it there.

3) Respect other people’s space and feelings

We sincerely hope that you get the A Level exam results you were expecting (assuming your expectations were to do well!), but if it does all go according to plan, don’t forget that this won’t be the case for everyone at your school or college. And there’s nothing worse than getting grades that don’t get you your place at uni when people around you are wildly and loudly exciting. So don’t rub your success in people’s noses.

4) See the bigger picture

Perhaps the most important tip of all, this one is also the most difficult to stick to. It might not seem like it now, but A Level exam results are not the most important thing that will happen in your life, and nor are they some sort of winner-takes-all spin of the wheel that will determine your whole future in one dramatic moment. If things don’t go quite right, you’ll have another chance to put things right. And if you can keep that at the front of your mind, the day shouldn’t be so stressful, whatever happens.