We followed the progress of three Brighton students as they went through revision, exams and the anxious climax of results day.

KATE NICHOLLS, 18, of Hampstead Road, Brighton, studied A-levels in history, English language and German at Varndean College in Brighton.

She also has AS-level exams in archaeology and general studies and an advanced award exam in history. She wanted to study history at Clare College in Cambridge, and needed two As. She got an A in a politics A-level last year and a C in music AS-level.

PRE-EXAM TENSION:

"I started properly revising in May. Before then I'd done bits and pieces but it was hard to motivate myself.

"But I've got a routine. I've been getting up to start work at 9am, with regular breaks. I never work after 8pm.

POST-EXAM INQUESTS:

"As I went into my German oral, I was praying the examiner wouldn't ask me about some complicated subject. But I thought it went well enough."

RESULTS DAY:

"I got what I needed for Cambridge. I got As in my English language, Germany and history A-levels and As in my archaeology and general studies AS-levels.

"I'm very pleased. As for the future, I want to be Prime Minister!"

STUART KAY, 18, of Mill Drive, Hove, studied A-levels in maths, geography and design at Blatchington Mill School in Hove.

He needed an A and two Bs to study maths at the University of Bath or the University of Southampton.

PRE-EXAM TENSION:

"I only started revising three weeks before the exams.

"It was not as bad as I expected. I don't really mind putting the work in.

"The school has been very supportive. If you need help you can go in and you can phone some teachers at home too."

POST-EXAM INQUESTS:

"The worst exam was my P3 maths paper, which was definitely the hardest.

"I still thought I'd done well enough to get into university. I didn't mind which one out of Bath and Southampton.

"But the last maths and design exams were fine."

RESULTS DAY:

"I got two As, in geography and design, and a B in maths.

"I didn't get into my first choice of Bath University but I don't really mind that much. I'm going to Southampton to study maths. I'm very pleased."

NICK HAYWOOD, 17, of Old Shoreham Road, Shoreham, studied AS-levels in maths, chemistry, biology and drama at Cardinal Newman School in Hove.

He takes his A-levels next summer and hoped to study medicinal chemistry at university.

PRE-EXAM TENSION:

"My revision only started about a week or two before my first exam.

"It suddenly hit me. I've been terrified and I've been cramming.

"I'm not very disciplined and I needed some nagging from my mum to get down and revise.

POST-EXAM INQUESTS:

"The maths papers were really hard. The first pure maths exam was worse than I expected.

"I came out completely shattered. Biology and chemistry weren't easy.

"But I enjoyed my drama practical exam. After my last exam I headed straight for the pub just to try to forget it."

RESULTS DAY:

"I got a B in drama, Cs in chemistry and biology, and an E in maths.

"I was so anxious before I got the results, I felt sick all the way to school. It was a relief finally getting the results out of the way."