Thousands of teenagers across Kent are receiving their A-level results - as Ucas reports a 2% fall in the number of students accepted on to degree courses.

It is first year that students have had to sit proper exams since 2019 due to Covid.

In 2020, A-level students had their results downgraded from school estimates by a controversial algorithm, before Ofqual announced a U-turn.

Last year, no algorithm was used to moderate teachers’ grades and as a result saw a record high – with 44.8% of exam takers receiving A* or A grades.

This year it has been predicted that there could be 80,000 fewer A* and A grades compared to last year.

The lower grade average could potentially lead to increased competition in university places, it has been warned.

This morning Ucas revealed 425,830 students have taken up places at university so far, 2% down year-on-year.

So what do you do if you don't receive the results you wanted?

Graham Jones, director at Whitehead Monckton Solicitors in Maidstone, says if the results come as a shock – don't panic.

He said: "First speak to the school and they can make enquiries to see if there has been any errors.

"You can ask for a remark - marks can go down as well as up - so you need to be aware of that."

"I think students are probably very nervous," he added.

"You now have a situation of after two years of being in and out of school, this year's students had to sit exams in exam conditions."

"Results day was a horrible time - you are already really anxious and don't know what's going on."

Jack Cosgrove, a third year marketing student at the University of Kent knows the feeling all to well.

He went through the process of clearing when he applied to university.

Jack said: "Results day was a horrible time - you are already really anxious and don't know what's going on.

"I prefer talking to someone on the phone, so I called the hotline and got a calming, nice voice who wanted to help.

"It instantly puts your nerves at ease, and I made my application over the phone - it took about 20 minutes.

"They got back to me within two days with an offer."

It is Jack's second year of manning the lines at the clearing centre.

"You get a couple of people phoning up and they are in tears, it's horrible," he explained. "The first thing I say to them is 'this was me last year.'"

There are over 100 people manning the hotline this time round, as grades are expected to slip.

Jack added: "Last year for the first three or four days it was pretty manic - the phone didn't stop ringing.

"I imagine it's going to be busier, as I think more people will be looking to go away to university now everything is more normal."

A lot of students who deferred due to Covid lockdowns are expected to apply for a place this year.

Kent Union president, Zad Mahmood commented: "It's a broad mix I think.

"We are preparing for new freshers who haven't been to university before and also people who's friends may have gone to university and know what it's like.

"It might be that they had taken a year off to now have a more 'normal' university experience."