"I felt like I was going to cry, vomit, collapse. I was just so worried and scared because it's something that will affect my future," he said.
Imlahi Iallouchen needed a triple distinction in his BTec in biomedical science - the equivalent of three A grades at A-level - to get into Queen Mary University of London, where he hoped to study.
"I was scared, shaking. I didn't know what to do... but once I opened it and I saw what I was expecting, I was happy. I felt a huge sense of relief." In September, he will begin his course in marketing and management with one year in industry.
Imlahi Iallouchen was one of more than 1,200 students at Luton sixth-form college (LSC) collecting their A-level and BTec results, and one of thousands across the country celebrating top grades.
At LSC, the oldest in the country, about 60% of the students do a combination of A-levels and BTecs.
Mohammad Danyaal Asif, 18, could barely speak, he was so stunned at his triple A* grades in maths, chemistry and physics A-levels. "I'm just so shocked," he said. "It's better than what I needed." He is now following in his older brother's footsteps and heading to the University of Hertfordshire, where he will study aerospace engineering.
This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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