Understanding A Level Resits: A Guide

Results day might not have gone the way you planned. Seeing a grade that doesn't reflect your hard work can feel devastating, and it’s okay to be disappointed. But this is not the end of the road—it’s a detour. Your A Level results are just one snapshot in time, not a final verdict on your potential. Many university admissions tutors understand this and often value the resilience shown by students who work to improve their grades.

Before you get lost wondering what to do if you fail your A Levels, the most important first step is simple: talk to your school. Your teachers and advisors have guided countless students through this exact situation and can help turn overwhelming uncertainty into a clear, actionable plan.

Resit, Re-evaluate, or Re-apply? Your Three Main Paths Forward

When results aren't what you hoped for, it's a crossroad, not a dead end. You have three main paths you can take to get back on track towards your goals:

• Resit your A-Levels to get the grades you need for your first-choice university.

• Use UCAS Clearing to find a similar course at a different university that has places available.

• Take a Strategic Gap Year to re-evaluate, gain experience, and re-apply next year.

UCAS Clearing is a matching service that helps students without a university place find courses that still have vacancies. It’s a fast-paced but effective way to secure a spot for the upcoming academic year. A strategic gap year, on the other hand, isn’t just a year off. It’s a deliberate choice to gain work experience, travel, or volunteer, all while building a much stronger application for the following year.

If you've looked at the alternatives and feel that achieving a higher grade is the key to unlocking your original plan, then resitting is a powerful option.

How to Arrange Your A-Level Resit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve decided resitting is the right move, your first step is figuring out where you’ll take the exam. You have two options: go back to your old school as an internal candidate, or find a new location as an external candidate (also called a private candidate). Your old school should always be your first port of call, as returning is often the simplest path.

The main difference is the level of support. As an internal candidate, you might get some guidance from teachers you already know. However, as an A-Level resit private candidate, you are fully responsible for your own learning and simply use a registered exam centre to sit the final test. Think of it as booking a venue for the main event, while all the training is up to you.

If returning to your old school isn't possible, you'll need to find an exam centre yourself. Many schools and colleges accept private candidates, and a quick online search for “A-Level resit exam centres” or checking the official exam board websites (like AQA or Edexcel) is the best way to find one. Be sure to contact them early, as places can be limited.

Whichever path you choose, be aware of the strict exam board deadlines. Registration for summer exams often closes in early spring. Missing this window means you won’t be able to take the test, no matter how prepared you are. Securing your place also involves fees, which can vary significantly.

What Is the Real Cost of A-Level Resits in the UK?

Navigating the cost of A-Level resits can be tricky because there isn’t one single price tag. The total fee is made of two distinct parts: the exam board fee (the official charge from providers like AQA or Pearson Edexcel) and the centre administration fee. This admin fee is what the school or college charges for the practicalities of hosting you—invigilation, paperwork, and facility use—and it varies significantly from one centre to another.

When you add these together, the price for a single A-Level resit as a private candidate typically falls between £300 and £500, but can be higher. Subjects requiring practical assessments, like Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, will cost substantially more due to lab access and materials. Always get a clear, itemised quote from any potential exam centre before you commit.

This investment doesn't stop at exam entry. As a private candidate, you're also responsible for funding your own study materials, textbooks, and any potential private tuition you might need. This financial commitment naturally leads to a crucial question: how will universities view your new result?

Will Universities Hold Resit Grades Against You?

This is often the biggest worry on a resit student’s mind. For the vast majority of university courses, the answer is a comforting ‘no’. Most admissions departments are pragmatic; they care that you have achieved the required grades, not how many attempts it took. A successful resit demonstrates resilience and commitment, which are qualities universities value.

Most institutions treat resit grades the same as those achieved the first time. Their primary concern is whether you have the academic knowledge needed to succeed on their degree programme. An improved grade shows you have reached that level, and for most universities, that’s all that matters.

The main exception involves highly competitive courses. When improving A-Level grades for Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry, or for universities like Oxford and Cambridge, you may face stricter policies. These departments often receive thousands of applications from students with perfect grades on their first attempt, so they may show a preference for them. This doesn't make it impossible, but it does make it more challenging.

Your most important action is to do your research. Before committing to a resit, check the entry requirements for your specific course on each university’s website. Many will have a clear policy stated in their FAQs or admissions section. If not, don’t be afraid to contact the admissions department directly to ask.

How to Manage Your UCAS Application with Pending Resits

Applying through UCAS with a resit is more straightforward than it sounds. In your application's 'Education' section, add the subject you're retaking and mark its status as ‘Pending’. You’ll also enter the date you'll be sitting the exam, which is typically the following summer. This is a standard part of the application for many students.

If a university makes you an offer, it will simply be conditional on you achieving the required grade in your resit. For example, your offer might state, “Achieve a Grade B in Biology.” To them, it’s no different from an offer made to a student yet to sit any final exams. Your application is assessed on its overall merit, including your personal statement and reference.

Crucially, standard deadlines still apply. Even if your resit exam is in the summer, your UCAS application with pending resits must be submitted by the main January deadline. Missing this date limits your options, so staying on top of the timeline is vital.

Remark vs. Resit: Which One Is the Right Choice for You?

Before committing to a resit, there's another path for improving A-Level grades: a remark. Officially called a 'Review of Marking', this is where you ask the exam board to have a senior examiner re-check your existing paper. The key question is whether a simple clerical error is holding you back, or if a full do-over is needed.

Deciding between a remark and a resit often comes down to how close you were to the next grade boundary. Your school or college can provide this information. Use this simple guide to help you decide:

| Choose a Remark if... | Choose a Resit if... | | :--- | :--- | | You were only 1-5 marks off the next grade. | You were more than a few marks away. | | Your teachers were genuinely surprised by your grade. | You know you underperformed due to illness or stress. |

A remark is a gamble—your grade can be lowered, stay the same, or go up. If your mark is confirmed or lowered, you've lost time and the fee. A resit, while a bigger commitment, gives you a completely fresh start to demonstrate your knowledge and achieve the grade you need, making it a vital option for anyone who missed their grade by a wider margin.

Your 5-Step Action Plan for A-Level Resit Success

This moment is not about what happened on results day—it's about what you choose to do next. Armed with a clear understanding of your options, you can turn this setback into a strategic second chance. This action plan will help you regain control and build a solid foundation for success before you even open a textbook.

Your 5-Step Action Plan

1. Talk to Your School: Get immediate advice from teachers and advisors who know the process.

2. Research University Policies: Check the resit policies for your target courses and universities.

3. Decide and Register for Your Resit: Choose your path (internal or external) and register before the deadline.

4. Create a Revision Plan: Structure your study time to focus on weak areas and build confidence.

5. Update Your UCAS Application: Enter your pending resit grade correctly and submit before the January deadline.

You are no longer just reacting—you are actively taking charge of your future.