Jubilant scenes were met with relief as A-level students picked up their grades to mark the end of their turbulent two-year courses.
When Greater Manchester's students began studying their A-levels in September 2019, they had no idea of the Covid chaos that would unfold before they finished.
With long periods of home learning and external exams cancelled, the class of 2021 endured tough circumstances as they completed their studies.
READ MORE: A-level results day 2021 LIVE as students across Greater Manchester receive grades
Kaitlin Carter, who achieved A*ABB at Oldham Sixth Form College, said: "I exceeded optimum stress last year in March when they said 'go home and don't come back'.
"I'm so proud of us because it has been such a difficult year. Our college has been very fair in how they've done it.
"They made us do the exams as though they were real A-levels, so we didn't know what was going to happen going into them, we didn't know any of the questions, they gave us very little to prepare with.
"We've taught ourselves a lot of this course and I think we deserve the grades that we have got."
Across the country, 44.8% of candidates received an A* or A grade in the their A-levels, a new record high.
The grades were teacher assessed, based on work in lessons and mock or internal exams, and headteachers had to sign a declaration to say the grades were accurate.
Cambridge-bound Oliver Cooney, who achieved A*A*A* at Oldham Sixth Form College, said: "I think there's quite a collective sense of 'phew' - we've done it now and it's all worked out well.
"It was just a really weird experience in general. The college have done their best to make it normal, they've given us support.
"Especially with the exams, they kept us informed about how they were going to do the grades, very transparently, and we had faith in them."
Many students at Oldham Sixth Form College agreed that the past 18 months had been difficult as they adapted to learning at home.
They felt the support they received helped them over the line - with Aiesha Bibi, who achieved AAB, describing the support of her tutors as a 'godsend'.
Emma Smith, who got A*AAA, said: "It's finally over, all the work has paid off now, especially after all the panic of this year."
Cian Lomax, who will study at Oxford after achieving A*A*A*A*, added: "It's been really hard because we are not in college properly, but everyone has tried really hard and deserve to be proud of themselves."
However, some students admitted that the way they received their grades through teacher assessments made them feel a bit uneasy.
Luke Flynn, who achieved AAA, said: "It's a strange feeling. It's a bit numb to be honest.
"Obviously I'm happy about the grades but with the situation over the past two years, it doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel natural. It feels quite fake."
Over at Whalley Range Sixth Form, in south Manchester, students were pleased to see their efforts finally pay off after a difficult two years in the pandemic.
Tasleema Begum, who scored two distinction* grades and a distinction, said: "The online classes were hard. When we were doing it online in January I didn't like it.
"I so relieved now. At work I was talking to my co-workers saying how I was a bit stressed about it, but now that I know, I'm not stressed and I can properly enjoy the holidays than I did before."
Afifa Chaudhry, who achieved A*AAA, added: "It was tough when we found out the exams were cancelled and we had to adapt. It took a lot of hard work but we got there."
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