How to Resit Your A-Levels 2023

August 17th 2023 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!

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.

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.

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.

When are A-Level Resits?

A-Level resits are in the summer. 2023 resits will be in May or June 2024.

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.

Where can You Resit Your A-Levels?

Many students retake their exams through the school or college they originally studied with.

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.

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 is usually a cost for tuition, and a follow up cost for actually resitting the exam.

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.

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!

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.

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 only your exam scores let you down, you won’t have to re-do all of your coursework.

The bad news: Thanks to a system change, students unfortunately have to retake the entire course.

In the past, students had the option to only take the modules they needed to pass the exam. However, now students hoping to resit will have to put themselves through the full course again.

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.

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 2023 to find more information about Clearing, remarking, and next steps.