How to Resit Your A Levels 2026

Thursday 13th August 2026 is this year’s A level Results Day. If you’re among the many students who didn’t meet their predicted scores and fell short of their spot at university, don’t start panicking just yet.

You have the option to retake your A level exams! Browse A Levels here.

That might not be what you want to hear after recently sitting for them, but it’s a great way to boost your CV, help you achieve jobs, and nab that university place if you choose. You can even study from home online.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through the process and help you decide whether resitting is for you.

Table of Contents

• Why You Should Consider Resitting Your A Levels
• Can You Resit A Levels?
• When are A Level Resits?
• Where can You Resit Your A Levels?
• How Much does Resitting A Levels Cost?
• Can You Still Go to University?
• How Many Times Can You Resit?
• Do You Need to Resit the Whole Course?
• Who Can You Talk to about Resitting A Levels?

Why You Should Consider Resitting Your A Levels

As you’re probably already aware, A Levels are a pretty big deal. In the UK, they’re the usual pathway to a university education. If you’ve received your results and opted not to attend university, you may think resitting is a waste of time. But before you write off your A Level career altogether, consider that potential employers, apprenticeship positions, and further training courses will all want to see your A Level scores before taking you on.

If you’re still aiming to get into university, improved scores will give you the benefit of more choice and places on more esteemed courses. Even competitive Russell Group universities accept resit students, with most viewing retakes as a sign of commitment and resilience rather than a setback.

Consider whether you think your scores could be improved by more time revising or different exam conditions. Do some research and weigh up whether A Levels will help you reach your goals, or whether other qualifications would be better for you.

How A Level Resits Work

Can You Resit A Levels?

Yes. Anyone who wants to retake their A Levels can do so, as long as they have a GCSE grade C or higher in the resit subject. There’s no upper age limit either, so whether you sat your exams a few months ago or a few decades ago, the door is still open. Explore A Level resit options here.

When are A Level Resits?

A Level resits are only held in the summer. If you sat your A Levels in 2026, your next opportunity to resit will be in May or June 2027. The autumn exam series that briefly ran during the pandemic years has now been discontinued for UK A Levels, so summer is the only window available.

Exam entry deadlines typically fall in mid to late February, with significant late-entry fees charged after that. We always recommend registering as early as possible to keep costs down and secure your place at your chosen exam centre.

If you decide you want to resit your A Levels, Association of Learning accepts new students throughout the year. Get in touch with our advisers to find out how you could study for your resits from home, at your own pace.

Search A Level options here

Where can You Resit Your A Levels?

Many students retake their exams through the school or college they originally studied with. This is often the most straightforward route if you’ve kept in touch with your tutors and you’re happy in that environment.

However, if you don’t want to return to school or college, and feel you could achieve higher marks studying on your own timetable, in your own space, you can study online. Online A Level courses are a great option for students who want to resit their A Levels alongside working, apprenticeships, and other courses. They’re also a solution for many students who want to avoid returning to the classroom.

Bear in mind that even if you study online, your final exams must be sat in person at an approved exam centre. You’ll need to find one near you that accepts private candidates, and ideally book your slot around six months before your exam date. The JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) tool is the easiest way to find a suitable centre near you.

How Much does Resitting A Levels Cost?

Unfortunately, there is a cost to resitting A Levels. It can vary course-to-course how much your resit will set you back. There are typically two main costs to plan for: tuition fees if you’re studying with a course provider, and exam entry fees paid separately to the exam centre.

Online A Level course fees generally fall between £299 and £599 per subject, with exam entry fees typically adding a further £270 to £410 per subject on top. Costs at private colleges or independent retake schools can be considerably higher. Missing the standard February entry deadline can also push exam fees up significantly, so registering early is one of the easiest ways to save money.

All of our online A Level courses have flexible payment plans, giving you some relief from the financial burden of A Level resits. Give our friendly student support team a shout if you’d like to learn more.

Can You Still Go to University?

The good news: Yes! Most universities accept students who have retaken their A Level exams.

The bad news: Universities will be able to see that you’ve resat A Level courses. For the majority, this won’t be an issue. Retaking your exams shows a commitment to academia and that you’re willing to put the effort in to achieve high marks.

There are a few exceptions to be aware of. Highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science (particularly at Oxford and Cambridge) may not accept resit applicants without strong mitigating circumstances, and some universities may ask resit candidates for higher grades than first-time applicants. If you’re concerned about your eligibility after resitting, contact your goal universities and find out their stance on accepting A Level resits. You may be relieved with what you find! Thought about resitting your A levels, click here to browse options.

How Many Times Can You Resit?

You could retake your A Level exams 100 times if you wanted to. There’s no limit to how many times you can resit, but we strive to ensure our resit students only have to do it once.

Reach out to our advisers to see how you can prepare for your resits remotely, at a pace that suits you.

We recommend students focus on the courses that will help them achieve their goals. Research the requirements for the further education course, apprenticeship, or career you’ve set your sights on, and find out if your A Level resits will contribute.

Do You Need to Resit the Whole Course?

The good news: If your A Level exam scores are the only factor preventing you from achieving your desired grades, you won’t need to repeat the entire coursework. This means you can focus your efforts solely on exam preparation.

The bad news: The linear system requires students to retake the entire A Level exam in the following May/June. This means you’ll need to study the entire course again, which can be time-consuming and demanding.

The flexibility to retake individual modules that was available under the old modular system is no longer an option. This means you can’t isolate specific areas where you struggled and focus on improving those areas. Instead, you’ll need to address any weaknesses in your understanding of the entire course.

However, there’s a potential benefit: Your coursework mark from your previous attempt can be carried forward, which can save you time and effort. This means that if you’re confident in your coursework, you can focus your energy on improving your exam performance, find A Levels here.

Who Can You Talk to about Resitting A Levels?

There are so many sources of information about resitting A Levels that it can be difficult to know where to start.

If you’ve found yourself with lower A Level results than expected, try reaching out to your tutors to get to the bottom of why. Getting insight and feedback can be a great starting point to decide where to go from here. UCAS and the National Careers Service also offer free, impartial advice if you’re weighing up whether resits are the right move for you.

Our support team are always on hand to offer advice and feedback about A Level courses, as well as alternative routes to reaching your goals. We would love to hear from you. Contact us to learn more.

Check out our Guide to A Level Results Day 2026 to find more information about Clearing, remarking, and next steps.