This is it. After years of hard work, A-level students across the UK will find out whether their hard graft has paid off.
Results day is on August 15 this year, and for many, the letters printed beside their chosen subjects will determine the direction of their next steps; be it towards uni halls, to an apprenticeship or leaving education entirely for the world of work.
The last few years have been a tumultuous time, not least for students who have had to swap classrooms for remote learning on a screen. While schools are slowly but surely returning to normal, this graduating class should be commended for their efforts in learning during a worldwide pandemic.
Whether they aced the lot, want to resit their exams or are rethinking their futures entirely, finishing further education is a landmark occasion. It’s time to give the teen in your life a pat on the back for their hard work with a considered exam results gift.
We’ve put together a suitable curation of gifts to give for wherever life will take them next.
See our edit below
16 - 25 Railcard
A practical gift they may not initially explode with excitement at the sight of, but will come in so useful for their first year after A-levels - especially for those headed to Halls. The 16 - 25 Railcard takes a third off most train fares across the country, so whether they want to head back home or explore a new city one weekend, it won’t cost them the best part of their student loan to do it. It’s a total bargain at £30 for a year, although a three-year card is also available for £70, and will see them from Freshers Week until graduation day.
Buy now £35.00, Railcard
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 Wireless Speaker
The perfect speaker for every occasion, this UE speaker has a deceptively loud sound for its small size. Its 13-hour battery life makes it perfect for day trips and its waterproof feature means you can use it everywhere from the pool to your shower.
The best part? A new outdoor boost mode increases clarity in sound and volume so you can bask in the sun and enjoy your tunes at top volume. Pair multiple UE speakers together for a truly unique wireless music experience.
Buy now £71.50, Amazon
Round Mini Shoulder Bag
This now iconic Uniqlo Shoulder Bag has taken the internet by storm due to its Tardis-like interior and easy accessibility. Available in a wide range of colours and coated with a water-repellent finish, this is the ideal shoulder bag for almost any occasion.
Buy now £14.90, Uniqlo
Apple Airpods Pro
These have rapidly become the baseline against which other earbuds are judged, such is their prevalence among iPhone users. Airpods have improved greatly since their first iteration, and the Pro variant now sports noise cancellation, IPX4 sweat resistance, and replaceable tips so you can get the fit just right.
Battery life is one of the Pros’ weaker elements, with 6 hours quoted when using noise cancellation. This tech takes its toll on every pair we tried, but on the Airpods Pro, it seems particularly bad. Perhaps it’s the slim and svelte design of the buds, leaving little room to cram in batteries. The charging case is a good one with 30 hours of playback, and powering up the ‘Pods for an hour’s use from just five minutes in the case. Sound is balanced with good bass, and is distinctly superior to that from cheaper earbuds.
Buy now £189.00, Amazon
Amazon Fire HD 11 tablet
With a productivity suite including Microsoft Office apps and Bluetooth keyboard support, Amazon is pushing the credentials of its latest eleven-incher to be a professional’s companion.
The device features an eight-core processor, 5GB of memory and a decent 14-hour battery life. Its operating system is a version of Android, so you don’t get access to the Google Play Store, with Amazon’s more limited alternative filling the gap. This is almost certainly good enough as long as you’re not expecting the latest mobile games, as all the main streaming services are there, plus Amazon’s enormous Kindle book and magazine ecosystem.
With everything else in place, the question becomes whether an eleven-inch screen is big enough for you. Smaller screens like this are nice to use while lounging on the sofa but, while the ability to rotate them into portrait alignment helps somewhat, trying to type a large document on them can be a chore.
Buy now £249.99, Amazon
INSTAX mini 11 Instant Camera - Sky Blue
It’s a given that all phones come with a built-in camera these days, but it doesn’t hurt to remind them of the joys of an instant camera that can print photos out in seconds.
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 11 comes in a selection of fun pastel colours: white, pink and purple in addition to blue. It automatically adjusts shutter speed so they’ll get perfect post-exam pics every time. There’s also a mirror on the front and a pop-out lens to nail those all-important summer selfies the first time around.
Requires two AA batteries and takes Instax Mini Film - sold separately.
Buy now £73.70, John Lewis
Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush
Battery life: 40+ days
Accessories: Case, USB-C charger
SURI’s Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush is a reimagination of a classic toothbrush, crafted from innovative, bio-based materials with no trace of petroleum-based plastics. The brush uses recyclable plant-based heads and bristles and the streamlined aluminium body is designed to be taken apart and repaired, all while delivering a dentist-level clean. The super-soft bristles are crafted from castor oil which replicates a similar feel to nylon bristles without leaving microplastics behind once broken down.
Most impressively, SURI will recycle the toothbrush heads for free in the UK and the US, offering up a user-friendly process to benefit both the customer and the planet. All you have to do is return your used heads in a prepaid compostable mailer bag provided upon purchase and let the SURI team take care of the rest.
Two minutes may seem fleeting, but brushing your teeth even for this brief period can be boring nonetheless. SURI’s two-minute timer and haptic feedback every 30 seconds help the seconds to whizz by while ensuring you’re not cutting corners. Once finished, place the brush into the magnetic mirror mount provided and be on your merry way.
Buy now £95.00, Amazon
Krups Nespresso Essenza
Key Specifications
If some of the Nespresso price tags leave you wincing at the prospect, the Krups Nespresso Essenza is a no-frills machine that comes at a more budget-friendly RRP.
The small and compact design of the Essenza also makes it a popular choice for those who want to add a Nespresso maker to their kitchen without taking up valuable countertop space. It’s even small enough to take with you on road trips if you can’t bear the thought of surviving on an instant during your weekends away.
Don’t be fooled into thinking the lower price tag means lower quality, however - this Nespresso machine has a 19-bar high-performance pump and still heats up quickly in around 25 seconds. Whilst perhaps best suited to making espressos, its removable drip tray allows it to accommodate taller latte glasses too.
It’s worth remembering that the smaller size of this Nespresso machine means the capsule container fills up quickly and the water capacity is only 0.6L. However, that’s a minor sacrifice in exchange for its small size and affordability.
Pros
Cons
Was: £133.47
Buy now £114.99, Amazon
Comfort MOB
MOB is more than a social media sensation: it’s a movement. Comfort MOB pulls its viral videos together to create a guide to pure gourmet joy.
This book is stuffed with nutritious ideas and old-school recipes to provide both comfort and satisfaction, especially for anyone who needs to build confidence in the kitchen. The recipes are affordable and achievable for all levels.
Pasta fans will adore getting stuck into recipes like Ben’s Dad’s Puttanesca. Comforting and glorious.
Buy now £17.57, Amazon
Ninja Air Fryer, 3.8 L
The market-leading Ninja Kitchen has air fryers and multicookers coming out of its ears, which something to suit all budgets. For those who need a little coaxing onto the air fryer bandwagon, it's compact 3.8L air fryer is just within budget.
It may look small, but this bad boy can cook a small chicken, 900g family serving of fries and can reheat leftovers and dehydrate healthy snacks too, working up to 50 per cent faster than fan-assisted ovens. The single drawer is coated in a non-stick finish, meaning clean up is less of a hassle.
Buy now £75.99, Amazon
Casio AQ-230GA-9DMQYES
Perhaps the most iconic affordable watch, a digital Casio with a gold metal strap is a classic. This version is elevated with an analogue display with a white face, and also boasts the same useful features of a stopwatch and an alarm. Ideal for everyday wear, pair it with gold jewellery for maximum impact.
Buy now £47.50, First Class Watches
Lisa Angel Personalised Sterling Silver St Christopher Necklace
Gift your loved one a touching Saint Christopher pendant necklace. These adornments are believed to protect the wearer during their travels, so this item is perfect for school graduates jetting off on their next adventure - be it a gap year or university.
The piece can be personalised and comes in both larger and smaller sizes for all genders.
Buy now £45.00, Not On The High Street
Papier Wonder Hardback Notebook
As this notebook so aptly states, many of those finishing A-Levels may feel that they are starting a new page in life. What better way to keep track of all these new experiences than by recording them in this chic notebook from premium stationery brand Papier? Choose between lined, blank or dotted, and fill all 96 pages with those post-results day thoughts.
Buy now £20.70, Papier
Fjallraven Kanken Laptop 13’’
If you want a bag that’s going to last, Fjallraven’s instantly recognisable Kanken bags are a great option. They’re expensive, yes, but the timeless design means they’re not going to go out of fashion, and they’re made from durable, water-repellent fabric that’s built to last.
The Kanken Laptop bag is a twist on the classic Kanken, and the smallest size fits a 13-inch laptop with just enough space for books and a pencil case too. We found the side pockets just a little too small for a water bottle, but the bag is also available in 15-inch and 17-inch sizes if your child has a fair bit to carry around. There are 14 muted colours to choose from, including a simple black and the latest addition – Foliage Green.
Buy now £115.00, Fat Buddha Store
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
Make no mistake folks, we are living in a time of peak hydration. For the friend who needs to keep their own water reservoir in their orbit at all times, there's no gift that will have the squealing more than a Stanley.
The brand has launched a new Oasis collection (nope, nothing to do with the Gallaghers), which includes this statement striped collection. No losing this bad boy in your bag.
Available in three sizes: 0.59L, 0.89L and 1.8L.
Buy now £50.00, Stanley
Brownie God Custom Collection
If you’re not much of a baker, outsource the job to Brownie God, a company offering cool and cute slabs and individual brownies perfect for celebrating special occasions. This box of up to 15 handmade chocolate brownies makes an ideal gift to hand over as soon as the envelope has been ripped open.
Buy now £18.00, Brownie God
Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook
Professional chef and TikTok maestro Poppy O’Toole has finally put all those reels and videos that you’ve saved and never gone back to into a handy cookbook. With a whopping 100 total recipes, Poppy teaches us how to create delicious honey soy salmon and asparagus, addictive fakeaways, roast chicken, mac and cheese, brownies and so much more.
Buy now £10.00, Amazon
Rains Tote Bag Rush
Brace yourself for the British drizzle with Rains’ Rush tote. Its waterproof qualities will protect your possessions against the elements and provide a sleek touch to any outfit.
Buy now £69.00, Rains
Neom Happiness Scented Candle (1 wick)
After any strenuous period, it’s good to be reminded that happier times are on the horizon. Neom has just the thing – a candle that claims to have captured the scent of happiness with a unique blend of 10 essential oils including zingy lemon and white neroli. Made from hand-poured 100 per cent naturally derived wax, one whiff of this and your mood is sure to be boosted.
Buy now £37.00, Sephora
The Forest & Co Super Fluffy Slippers With A Personalised Gift Bag
These fluff-tastic slippers are the first step to happy feet. A great gift for those who feel the cold, the eye-catching foot warmers come with a personalised bag for safekeeping.
Buy now £28.50, NOTHS
