Counselling helplines across the city are ramping up their services in anticipation of this morning's release of A-level results.
Many are extending their operating hours to console, guide and advise the thousands of students who are this morning realising they need to rethink their plans.
A new helpline manned by undergraduates from the University of Hong Kong is focusing particularly on giving academic advice, assuring students they still have a wide range of educational avenues, regardless of how they fared in their A-levels.
'Some students are very disappointed, but after we talk with them they know more about their choices,' said Ip Yui-Wai, who runs non-profit youth group Hok Yau Club's helpline for A-level students. 'They realise that there's not only Jupas - Joint University Programmes Admissions System - there are other options too.'
The group also offers counselling over the phone on 2777 1112 between 10am and 2am.