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Jeremy Clarkson A-level results day tweets in order

A-LEVEL results day this year was particularly stressful, as students' results up and down the nation were based on their predicted grades.

However, as per tradition, Jeremy Clarkson tweeted some comforting words of wisdom about failing his A-Levels over 40 years ago.

Clarkson tweets about his bad A-Level grades every year
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Clarkson tweets about his bad A-Level grades every yearCredit: Rex Features

What A-Level grades did Jeremy Clarkson receive?

Jeremy Clarkson famously received a C and two U grades in his A-Levels.

Typically, Twitter on results day is filled with people boasting their A*A*A* grades and celebrating getting into Oxbridge, which can be very alienating and disheartening for those who did not get the grades they expected.

For years, students have found comfort in the fact that one of the most successful men on TV had not done well at school, and that bad grades will not stop you from achieving your dreams.

Clarkson now hosts brainy quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
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Clarkson now hosts brainy quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?Credit: ITV

Timeline of Clarkson's A-Level tweets

Clarkson's A-Level tweets follow the familiar structure of "If you didn't get the right A level results, don't worry. I got a C and 2 Us, and..." then he inserts something about his luxurious millionaire lifestyle.

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Why did Clarkson receive backlash for his 2020 A-Level tweet?

After Jeremy posted his traditional A-Level tweet, the 60-year-old then went on to joke about controversy over this year's marking, quipping: “And I didn’t even get the chance to insist the government gave me three As instead.”

As exams were cancelled during lockdown, a computer algorithm is for the first time being used to adjust grades given by teachers to 250,000 students.

This caused some controversy, as many believe that teachers marked up their students.

In response to his tweet, a few Twitter users said it was in bad taste. 

One wrote: 'You're boasting to kids? Who’ve had an actual pandemic disrupt their studies?' 

A second commented: 'How dare you say that! You didn’t have your exams cancelled the year of a bloody global pandemic. I’m disgusted that you think you can equally compare to what’s happened to our generation to yours.'

Some Twitter users believe that Clarkson's tweet was in bad taste
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Some Twitter users believe that Clarkson's tweet was in bad tasteCredit: Amazon Prime Video

What other celebs did badly at school?

Celebs ranging from actors to businesspeople did badly at school or dropped out with no qualifications, and managed to go on to have successful careers.

Some of these celebs include:

  • Simon Cowell (only achieved two O Levels)
  • Rihanna (dropped out at 16)
  • Kate Moss (did not sit her exams)
  • Richard Branson (dropped out at 16)
  • Cameron Diaz (dropped out at 17)
  • Dougie Poynter (dropped out at 16)
  • Robbie Williams (failed all his exams)
  • Lord Alan Sugar (left school with no qualifications)
  • Tom Cruise (struggled with very bad dyslexia)
  • Chris Rock (dropped out in tenth grade)
  • Eminem (dropped out at 17)
Students across England open their A-Level results on live TV
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