Treat the Clearing call as a two-minute spoken personal statement. Have your UCAS ID, Clearing number, results and a pen ready, then cover three things: why you want this course, the evidence you are suited to it (grades, relevant subjects, reading or experience), and one or two specific reasons you want that university. Speak clearly, sound prepared, and have two questions ready to ask them. Universities give quick verbal offers on the phone, so the students who sound specific and organised get pushed up the list.
Clearing comes down to a series of short phone calls, and almost nobody rehearses them. On results day the admissions officer on the other end is making fast decisions between students with near-identical grades, and the ones who sound prepared and specific get a verbal offer while the vague ones get "we'll call you back".
This is a word-for-word guide to that call: what to say, what they will ask, how to prepare, and the mistakes that quietly cost places. If you missed your offer, did better than expected, or never applied this cycle, this is the two minutes that decides your next three years.
For where the call fits in the wider process, see our A-level results day 2026 guide and the full UCAS Clearing 2026 guide.
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Have all of this in front of you before the first call. Fumbling for a number mid-call is the fastest way to lose momentum.
- Your UCAS Personal ID (ten digits) and your Clearing number, both shown in UCAS Hub once your status moves into Clearing.
- Your achieved grades, written down. You will be asked immediately.
- A prioritised list of universities and courses you want to try, with any vacancy reference or course code next to each. Check vacancies in the UCAS search tool first (UCAS, what is Clearing).
- A pen, paper and a quiet room. You will be told names, extensions and deadlines, and you will not remember them.
- Two questions to ask them (see the end of this guide).
One more thing: you have to make the call yourself. Universities will not discuss your place with a parent unless you arranged nominated access beforehand. A parent can sit beside you and keep you organised, but the voice on the line has to be yours.
The structure: a two-minute spoken personal statement
The call has a predictable shape. After the switchboard connects you to the right subject team, you get roughly two minutes to make your case. Structure it exactly like a personal statement, in three blocks.
Block 1 — Why this course (about 30 seconds)
One or two genuine, specific reasons. Not "I've always loved it."
"Hi, my name is [name], my Clearing number is [number]. I'm calling about your [course name] course. I applied for [original subject] this year, and what drew me to [new course] is [one specific reason, for example a module, a topic, or a career direction]. I'd really like to be considered."
Block 2 — Why you are suited to it (about 60 seconds)
Your evidence. Lead with grades, because that is their first filter, then add the substance.
"I achieved [grades]. I took [relevant subjects], and I've done [one concrete thing: wider reading, an EPQ, work experience, a project] that's relevant to this course because [one sentence]."
The concrete thing matters. Anyone can claim enthusiasm; naming a book, a project or a placement is what makes you sound like a real applicant rather than a panicked one.
Block 3 — Why this university (about 30 seconds)
Two minutes on their course page before you call pays off here.
"I looked at your course specifically and the [placement year / particular module / specialism] stood out to me. Are there any places available on it?"
Then stop talking and let them respond. They may make a verbal offer on the spot, ask a follow-up question, or take your details and call back.
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If you are switching subjects
Switching is completely normal in Clearing, and admissions staff hear it every year. What they are listening for is whether you understand the new subject, not a dramatic backstory.
Name the bridge honestly:
"I originally applied for Economics, but the modules I enjoyed most were the ones on [X], and your Business Management course focuses on exactly that."
Or simply:
"During revision I realised what I actually want to study is [subject], and I've read [book / followed topic] to be sure."
Many universities will then ask you to email a short statement (usually 300 to 500 words) explaining the switch before they confirm. That mini-statement is written in hours, not weeks, so errors and waffle are the usual failure mode. If you have a draft, Statementory scores it and flags the weak lines in 5 to 10 minutes, which is about the turnaround Clearing gives you. We cover this in detail in the Clearing personal statement guide.
What they will ask you
The call is a quick screening conversation. Expect some combination of:
| They ask | What they are checking | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| "What grades did you get?" | Whether you meet the (often flexible) Clearing threshold | State them plainly, no apologising |
| "Why this course?" | Genuine interest vs any-port-in-a-storm | Your Block 1 reason |
| "Why are you switching from [original subject]?" | Whether you understand the new subject | Name the bridge, stay honest |
| A subject question | Basic aptitude and preparation | Answer briefly; it is fine to think first |
| "Can we call you back?" | They are checking places with a tutor | Confirm your best number and ask when |
You will not be caught out by a hard interview. The bar is sounding organised, specific and genuinely interested.
The mistakes that cost places
- Sounding vague. "I'll take anything you've got" tells them you have not thought about it. Even in Clearing, specificity wins.
- Not having your numbers ready. Every second spent hunting for your Clearing number is momentum lost on a busy line.
- Letting a parent take over. They will not talk to anyone but you, and it reads badly.
- Calling in no particular order. Work down a prioritised list so you are not accepting your fourth choice before trying your first.
- Accepting on the spot out of relief. A verbal offer usually gives you a little time. It is fine to say "thank you, can I confirm within the hour?" while you try one more call.
- Going silent after your pitch. Say your three blocks, then let them lead. Do not fill the pause with rambling.
Two questions to ask them
Having a question ready makes you sound like someone choosing a course, not just chasing any place:
- "Is accommodation still available for Clearing students, and what's the deadline to sort it?"
- "What are the next steps and when do I need to confirm on UCAS by?"
Write the answers down. Clearing accommodation and confirmation deadlines move fast.
The bottom line
The Clearing call is the most personal-statement-like part of the whole process, and the least rehearsed. Prepare three short blocks, keep your numbers in front of you, and treat every call as a two-minute pitch. Students who do that turn a rough results morning into an offer by lunchtime.
If a university asks you to send a written statement for a course switch, Statementory will score it out of 100 and show you exactly what to fix in 5 to 10 minutes, with no account needed. Built for precisely this kind of day, from £9.99.
Sources
Details are for the 2026 cycle and were correct at the time of writing (August 2026). A-level results day is Thursday 13 August 2026. Individual universities set their own Clearing requirements and deadlines, so always follow the instructions the admissions team gives you on the call.
Frequently asked questions
What do universities ask on a Clearing call?
They start by taking your Clearing number and UCAS Personal ID, then usually ask what grades you achieved, which course you are calling about, and why you want it. Some ask a subject-related question or why you are switching from your original choice. It is a short screening conversation, not a formal interview, but they are deciding in real time whether to make you a verbal offer.
How long is a Clearing phone call?
Most calls last five to ten minutes. The part where you actually pitch yourself is about two minutes. Lines are busy on results day, so admissions staff move quickly. Being ready with your numbers and a clear reason for the course is what keeps the call moving in your favour.
What should I have ready before I call?
Your UCAS Personal ID and Clearing number, your achieved grades, the specific course code or name and any vacancy reference, a pen and paper, and two questions to ask them. Call from a quiet room with your notes in front of you. Have a list of the universities and courses you want to try, in priority order.
Should I write a script for my Clearing call?
Write bullet notes, not a full script you read aloud, which sounds robotic. Prepare three short blocks: why this course, why you are suited to it, and why this university. Practise saying them once out loud so you are not improvising cold when the line connects.
Can my parent make the Clearing call for me?
No. Universities will only discuss a Clearing place with the applicant themselves for data-protection reasons, unless you have set up nominated access in advance. A parent can sit with you and help you stay organised, but you have to do the talking.
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