Students at colleges and sixth forms across the county reacted as they discovered the results of two years of hard graft yesterday.
Many spoke of enjoying sheer elation while others relished the relief of finally being able to sit in the sunshine carefree.
The Argus got the reaction of students in Brighton and Hove on Thursday (August 16).
Bo Thomas and Ella Humphrey at BHASVIC said they are just relieved it is all over.
Bo said: “There’s so much stress leading up to the exams, so it was surreal to see the letters on the page this morning.
“We can now start to enjoy our summer.”
Meanwhile, Sachin Bhopal Myers, president of the student union at BHASVIC, said he was shocked at his three A* grades.
"I'm proud of what we achieved with the student union. I was influential in the under-19s free bus travel campaign.
"My dad was in disbelief when I got my grades. I am so happy, I didn't believe it when I first saw it."
Over at Varndean College, Helena Zdziech was celebrating her results as she heads to Edinburgh University to study politics.
She received three A* grades in politics, law and her extended project as well as an A in French, saying: “I worked hard for these. I’m really happy with them. The amount of work you have to put in meant that time management was intense.
“I’m excited for Edinburgh and to see the city, especially the Fringe. I really want to do a research paper project and I’m excited to meet new people.”
And Marco Lopez-Smith, also from Varndean, said he has big plans after taking a year out from studying.
"I wasn't expecting it, I'm pleasantly surprised," he said.
"I'm going to take a gap year and save up to travel. I want to go interrailing around Europe."
Marco wants to study biomedical science at Portsmouth, Bristol or Surrey.
Meanwhile, students at Cardinal Newman College were enjoying a successful year of grades.
Micah Tong-Yunes, James Watson and Keane Rodrigues all got into their preferred universities.
Keane said: “I was pleasantly surprised, I’ve been through this sort of thing before having been an academy player at Brighton. I didn’t put all my eggs in one basket this time so was really happy with my results.”
While Alyssa Eve, Clara Shepherd-Thompson, Minna Watson and Charlotte Guy are looking forward to relaxing after securing their first choice of universities.
Alyssa said: “It’s a real relief, I was actually having nightmares about it.”
Lauren McLellan came to say farewell to the college with pals Bella and Ellis Martin, who are twins.
“I had a little cry I was so relieved, then phoned Bella,” said Lauren.
READ MORE: Students in Brighton and Hove celebrate A-level results
Lauren, who is taking a gap year before university to travel across Australia and New Zealand, then rushed to Bella and Ellis’s house with a bunch of flowers for her mates.
Bella said: “I looked at mine in my room away from everyone else then told the rest of my family. They were all waiting for me.
While Ellis said: “I opened mine in bed then had to find out what all the noise was about. My mum was in tears.”
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