The waiting is over for the Island's A-level and AS-level students, who finally received their results this morning.
A-level results were released at 10am to Year 13 students (and were also made available online, at the UCAS wesbsite), while Year 12 received their AS-level results at midday.
Isle of Man students are among 60,000 young people across the UK aiming to secure their place in higher education.
With the national press reporting a rise in pass rates for the 27th year running, and a record number of students competing for university clearing places, it is a tense and emotional time for the schools.
However, the mood at Ballakermeen High School this morning was upbeat, as 220 students shared their results and discussed their next future.
Kane Kennaugh was amongst those for whom it was a happy occasion. Having bagged 3 'A' grades at A level (in Chemistry, Biology and Maths) and another at AS level in Further Maths, he was looking forward to taking up his place at Nottingham University to read Mathematics.
"I was quite nervous," he says, "because the university specifically wanted those results in Maths. So I'm really happy. It's my Mum's birthday as well, so she's really pleased."
Catherine Willoughby was also in a jubilant mood, having achieved a string of five 'A' grade passes (in Chemistry, Biology, Maths, French and General Studies) and, consequently, secured her first-choice place at Manchester University to read Biochemistry.
Catherine, who wants to follow up her undergraduate studies with a research-based Phd, has also won a ?5,000 per annum scholarship with a pharmaceutical company.
Throughout her studies, the support she has received from the school, she says, has been second to none.
"The school is ace. Obviously I'm feeling the love for it today but this has been like my second home for the last two years!"
For those students who did not achieve the results they'd hoped for, the immediate task in hand was to explore the options available to them.
While a 'near miss' will not necessarily jeopardise a student's place at their first or insurance choice university, others will have found themselves joining the scramble for clearing places.
The school's Head and Deputy Heads of Sixth Form remain on hand throughout the day to negotiate with the universities and give support and advice to students facing tough decisions.
A spokesperson said, "We've received good results in a particularly competitive year. However, our chief concern is not to report a record number of 'A' grades; it's to see all our students happily settled, with a clear direction and a sensible future in place."
Pictured: Ballakermeen High School in Douglas
