YOU might be told throughout your A-levels that they’re the most important things you’ll ever do – but are they?

Yes they’re important, but it all depends what you plan to do next.

Are A-levels the be all and end all, and do you need to go to university to do well in life?

These (extremely rich and famous) celebrities are proof that exam results don’t always matter.

There are hundreds of success stories out there from entrepreneurs, people who have grafted their way from the bottom of the pile to the top of the ladder and people who failed at first but tried and tried again.

We’ve rounded up four well-known faces who have proved that it’s not all about getting As.

Jeremy Clarkson

Oxford Mail:

Each year, Twitter braces itself for Clarkson’s annual A-levels tweet. It’s usually a fairly blunt summary of how many cars he has despite flunking his exams.

It’s safe to say he didn’t have the happiest of schools days, and said himself he got excluded from his private school for "drinking, smoking and generally making a nuisance” of himself.

Last year the Grand Tour presenter reminded his 7.2 million followers that he ‘got a C and 2 Us’ but has an impressive array of Range Rovers.

As well as selling millions of books, Clarkson’s motoring show is one of the most watched shows on Amazon Prime.

JK Rowling

Ok, so the Harry Potter author did pretty well in her A-Levels. But not as well as she wanted.

But, as you might expect of one of this century’s biggest-selling writers, she wanted to go to Oxford. She was rejected, and instead went to Exeter.

Oxford Mail:

Before she became one of the most recognisable names in the world, her first manuscript was rejected by 12 publishers before being accepted and becoming the best-selling series and billion-dollar industry it is today.

JK Rowling is worth around £1bn too – so she’s living proof that perseverance can pay off.

Sarah Millican

The award-winning comedian is one of the most recognisable faces on TV these days, but she admitted that her academic career wasn’t quite as successful.

Oxford Mail:

Pic. Adrian Long​

She reminded students that bad exam results aren’t ‘the end of the world’ while revealing her own results, which were less than stellar.

She said: “Much luck to you. But if you don't get what you need, it isn't the end of the world: You can always resit. Yes, good exam results are useful but not the be all and end all. (I got 2 Ds and an E) Take care. Hugs and love xx"

As well as several best-selling DVDs and sell-out tours, the comic was also named in the top 100 most powerful women in the UK by Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

Richard Branson

The business guru’s back-story is one of the most well-known entrepreneurial tales going, but it remains proof that exam results aren’t the only way to succeed.

Sir Richard once said in an interview that his old school headmaster told him he’d either end of in jail or as a millionaire.

Both predictions were wrong, however – he’s actually a billionaire.

Oxford Mail:

He left school at 16 and set up his own business straight away, going on to found Virgin.

Oh, and he’s going to space soon too.

Last year he posted an inspiring message to youngsters on results day, encouraging everyone do ‘do what they love and are naturally good at’.