How Do I Retake My A-Levels?
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How Do I Retake My A-Levels?#
Have you received your A-Level results and aren’t pleased with how they turned out? Perhaps you were hoping for straight As and your results didn’t reflect your aspiration. Or maybe you have dreams of getting into a top university but your results haven’t quite met the grade requirements. Resitting your A-Levels may be the best option for you!
So many students like you ask “How do I retake my A-Levels?” every year, so you aren’t alone! Even if your friends are moving on, retaking A-Levels is a common choice that a lot of students take, so don’t feel concerned.
Let’s go through the process of resitting your A-Levels, including answers to all your questions, in our guide below.
What's on this page?#
★ Why Should You Consider Retaking Your A-Levels?
★ When Can I Retake My A-Levels?
★ How Much Does It Cost To Retake A-Levels?
Why Should You Consider Retaking Your A-Levels?#
If you are feeling unsure about the outcome of your A-Level results, you should think about whether retaking one or more of your subject choices would be a good idea for you. There are a number of advantages and disadvantages to consider, which may help you to make a decision.
What Are the Advantages of Retaking A-Levels?#
Your grades could improve - By spending another year studying, you could retake the exam the following year and perform better. There may have been personal circumstances which impacted your focus and commitment to study. Retaking your A-Levels can give you the opportunity to get a better grade.
You may have more higher education options - In the circumstance that you perform better in your retake exam, you could open up a plethora of higher education options which were previously unavailable for you. This could range from being a top performing university or simply a subject you really want to study. It can be good to research the entry requirements to see what your chances are.
You can work and save money for university - During your time studying for your A-Level resit exams, you can work part-time to create a university fund. This is a great option if you are only resitting one or two subjects, considering you will have more spare time outside of school hours.
You could gain work experience - Again, if you are only retaking one or two subjects, you could use the additional time to look for work experience or an internship. Doing this may help you to decide what you really want to study at university, or help you to consider your career path options.
What Are the Disadvantages of Retaking A-Levels?#
Your grades could be lower or the same - There is a chance that you will retake the exam and receive the same grade or perform worse than the previous year. There may be extraneous factors which impact your study that you aren’t anticipating, or you are simply unable to perform at a higher grade level.
You will be a year behind your peers at university - Many of your friends may go straight to university and have new life experiences ahead of you. This can be difficult as you won’t be able to relate to their new lifestyle. However, you may not keep in touch with all of your school friends as people move around the country or even abroad!
You may have to live at home for another year - If you were looking forward to moving out for university, the decision to stay at home and study for another year can feel like a massive disadvantage. If you can support yourself, you may be able to move out anyway, or study in another city, but this option is more complicated and costly.
You have to pay to resit your A-Levels - You’ll need to consider if retaking your A-Levels is worth the cost. If you decide to enter university through clearing, you could save hundreds of pounds that you would have spent on retaking your exams. Weigh up the cost-benefit analysis for spending money on A-Level retakes to see if it suits your budget.
Can I Retake My A-Levels?#
Criteria for Eligibility to Resit A-Levels
Anyone can retake their A-Levels, regardless of age or grades. Enquire with your school or college to see what the steps are to enrolling as a resit student. If you left school many years ago, you are unlikely to be able to join in classes at most schools, but some sixth form colleges will accept mature students. Do some research into your local college offering A-Levels to find out your options and the subjects you could study.
When Can I Retake My A-Levels?#
Retaking your A-Level exams can only be done during the summer exam season. This means you will need to spend an additional year revising and learning the assessment content to prepare for the exams.
Can I Retake My A-Levels in November?#
Unfortunately, you cannot retake A-level exams in November. While you can retake your GCSE Maths and English exams in the Autumn, this does not apply for A-Level exams.
How Do I Resit My A-Levels?#
Enquire with your school to find out the process for resitting your A-Levels, you can choose to re-enroll and join classes for another year, or simply take the exam and revise in your own time.
The deadline for entries for summer exams is around February each year. Check with your school to find out when the deadline is for your year group.
Do I Have to Retake My A-Levels at College?#
Most students retake their A-Levels at the same college they completed their first set of exams in. This is because the process is much simpler, and can cost less.
You can privately retake your A-Levels, where you are not enrolled at college, but this requires you to be disciplined with study, and you may not receive further teaching before the exam. There are online tutors, but you will need to pay for the teaching, as well as the exam and entry fees.
What Options Do I Have For Retaking My A-Levels?#
You can retake your A-Levels in a number of ways:
At your current school, college or sixth form - this way you may have the choice to join lessons for part or the entire year, which could help you stay motivated to study
With an online private tutor - you can receive 1-2-1 lessons to prepare you for the exams, as well as being entered into a local school for exams as a private candidate
Private candidate entry - If you want to, you can study at home in your own time for the year, then enter as a private candidate in a local school for the exam.
How Much Does It Cost To Retake A-Levels?#
The cost of retaking one or more A-Level exams will vary depending on the subject, exam board and your school’s policy. Schools and colleges normally pay the entry fee for an A-Level resit, for students they are teaching. If you are interested in retaking any A-Levels, get in touch with your school or college exams officer, to find out what your next steps are. In some cases, you will be able to re-enroll as an internal candidate, and in others you will be registered as a private candidate. Even if you are enrolled with a school, college or exam centre you can still choose to take the re-sit elsewhere as a private candidate. Private candidates are likely to have to pay the fee themselves, though this is up to the school, college or exam centre where you sit the exam.
If you are interested in registering as a private candidate, explore this AQA list of schools and colleges to see what options are available in your local area.
Can I Get Any Financial Support to Retake My A-Levels?#
Depending on where you intend to study in the UK, you could apply for a loan to support the costs of retaking your A-Levels. See an outline for the different funding options for every country in the UK below:
Funding for students in England
If you are 19 or older on the first day you start your A-Level retake, you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan. Check to see if you are eligible for a loan, as this may help your financial decision making process. You can apply for a loan for up to a maximum for four A-Levels. The minimum loan amount is £300 and this must cover your course fees, not your living costs.
Funding for students in Wales
If you are 19 or older, with a household income of £18,370 or less, you could be eligible for the Welsh Government Learning Grant. The WGLG provides up to £1,500 of course funding for full-time students. The amount of funding you receive depends on your household income.
If you are between the ages of 16-18 and live with a household income of less than £23,077, you could be eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance. This is a weekly payment of £40 to support students with the costs of higher education.
Funding for students in Scotland
If you are between the ages of 16-18 and live with a household income of less than £26,884, you could be eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance. This is a weekly payment of £30, paid as one sum every two weeks. It can be used to support your studies, or help pay for transport to school.
Funding for students in Northern Ireland
If you are a full-time student in Northern Ireland, you may be eligible for the Further Education Grant. Get in touch with the Further Education Grants team to find out if you can receive funding for your A-Levels.
How To Prepare For A-Level Resits#
It can feel exhausting having just completed two years of A-Level study, and then deciding to study for another year. After you have taken a break to decompress, it’s time to prepare to resit your A-Level.
Tips on How to Study Effectively for an A-Level Resit#
Divide the A-Level topics down into the different exam papers. For example, the Paper 1 Exam, Paper 2 Exam. Then you can create a revision list for each exam. Make sure you have complete notes for each topic, and understand what kind of questions could come up in the exam papers. Figure out the best way for you to write notes: mind maps, flashcards, quiz questions, videos, in notebooks etc… One way to improve your exam skills is to practise answering questions from past papers in timed conditions.
Support and Resources Available for A-Level Resitters#
Your school or college should be able to provide you with resources, either from your previous teachers or in your new class. Many teachers create study guides or topic summaries for their students.
There are also many excellent online resources available for free. Some useful websites include:
★ Quizlet
★ YouTube
Make sure you are reading resources for the exam board you are using, as the topics and requirements will be different for each. You don’t want to waste time reading material for the incorrect exam board!
Challenges and Myths Surrounding A-Level Resits#
It can feel uncertain as to whether resitting your A-Levels is a smart option, so let’s address some key questions and myths to clear the air!
Does Resitting My A-Levels Impact My University Application? #
If you are resitting your A-levels, you will need to reapply for university through the UCAS portal using your new predicted grades. In your application, you will still need to declare your previous results. However, you also have the option of altering your personal statement. You can use this opportunity to talk about your journey over the past few months and how dedicated you are to achieving the results you need to get into your dream university.
As a general rule, retaking your A-Levels does not change the university’s stance on your application, especially as the grades are a prerequisite to entering the course. If you achieve the grades required, this should improve your chances of getting a course offer.
Most universities in the UK do accept applicants who have re-sat their A-Level exams, but there are some exceptions. For some top performing universities and medicine degrees, universities have preference for students who achieved the right grades first time.
If you are concerned about retaking affecting your university application, you can contact the universities to find out what their policy is. Some universities openly state that they have preference, but it can be good to check with the university admissions office before you assume you will be at a disadvantage.
Medicine courses in particular have a range of expectations depending on the university. Reasons such as exceptional circumstances can influence whether the university accepts your new re-sat A-Level grades.
Five Misconceptions About A-Level Retakes #
While some A-Level students will retake and receive the same grades again, this is NOT true for everyone. If you study effectively and perfect your exam writing skills, you are likely to improve your grade.
Once you arrive at university, you’ll notice that a lot of students took gap years or didn’t start university straight after their A-Levels. From deciding to study at a later date, to retaking exams, many students have a gap before going to university. While at school you go through each year with students your own age, university has a wider variety of ages in each year group.
After starting university, you’ll notice that no one will be that bothered about what grades you received at A-Level. The point is that you received an offer for the university and your main focus now will be getting a degree. Your university degree will hold more value on your CV than your A-Levels, so do not worry about it impacting your future.
This is NOT true. For most A-Level subjects, you can retake the exam multiple times. Check with your exam board for information about how many times you can retake an exam.
If most of your friends have moved away for university, you may feel lonely for a period of time. However, if you choose to make the most of your year and focus on the positive side of retaking your exams Plenty of people retake their exams and go on to achieve amazing things - so work hard, stay motivated and you’ll be able to do the same! Not all students go on to university, click here to view some inspiring stories from apprentices!
Retaking your A-Levels can feel like a choice which leaves you stagnant in education, but it can actually open up more opportunities for higher education. Be open to the option, as not everyone does the best they can in their first round of A-Level exams.
If university isn’t for you, explore other higher education providers in the UK here
