@Jeku: It's not confusing as such, I probably just haven't explained it very well in my initial post. The exams themselves aren't tied to specific universities or anything - they just want a certain grade set before you're accepted for entry (and that varies completely - they assess the subjects you take, what degree you're after and the results from the previous year. So the 'offers' they make can be practically 'tailor made' to your situation)
They send their offers through the year before the final exams, you work towards them, and if you meet the grades you get into your first (firm) choice. If you don't, you may get into your second choice (insurance, which would normally have a lower grade offer otherwise it's pointless) - otherwise, you go through 'clearing' (empty spots on courses in universities all over the country) or get a job
EDIT: Since an 'A-Level' is actually composed of two sets of exams (AS in the first year and A2 in the second year) it does strike me as pretty stupid that we get offers only after AS is already done though. If we got 'mini offers' telling us what to work for before we did the first half of the entire A-level, it would actually make a lot more sense (and would be a lot better in terms of giving AS students something solid/a context to work toward). But then again, the amount of admin. required for that would be huge
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