Can You Retake A levels? A Guide To Resits, Costs & Exam Remarks

Thinking about resitting your exams? Here's everything you need to know about how to retake A levels.

Not every exam goes to plan, and that's okay. Many students choose to retake A Levels or GCSEs to improve their grades, meet uni offers, or open up new opportunities.

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to retake A levels, how exam remarks happen, and the options for retaking GCSE Maths and English — whether you're still in college or coming back to study as an adult.

Can you retake A levels?

If you didn't get the grades you were hoping for, you don't have to panic, as more and more students are getting their first or second choice of university places, even if they didn't get the grades.

But, if you didn't get the grades or the university offer you were hoping for, you still don't need to panic, as you can absolutely retake A levels. It's super common to retake, and there are different options you can explore to help get your grades up.

As A level exams take place once a year in May/June, you will need to retake your exams again the next year, which means repeating the year of college or sixth form again. This does mean that if you were hoping to go to university in 2025, you'll have to go a year later, but if you missed your grades or don't want to go through clearing, this will give you a chance to improve your grades and give you more time to study.

The good news is that retaking often puts you in a stronger position. You've already studied the material and sat the exams once, so you know what to expect and where you need to improve. That means you can focus on your weaker areas, build confidence, and refine your exam technique.

While you'll need to retake the written exams, you might not have to redo coursework as if you were happy with your coursework marks, you can usually carry them forward and concentrate on the exams.

What happens if you fail one A level?

If you only fail one A level or aren't happy with one particular grade, you can choose to just retake that one subject.

This means that you'll only be studying one subject for the year, so you might have time to get a part-time job and work on saving money for university.

How to retake A levels

If you decide you do want to retake your A levels, you'll need to let your sixth form or college know as soon as possible that you want to come back and do the year again.

Remember, you're not the first student to want to retake an exam, and they will be able to advise you on the next steps and getting your place on the A level course sorted out. If you only want to retake one subject, you'll most likely only have to come in for a few hours a week.

Your teachers will probably be able to offer you some advice on what they think the best next step is for you, and your school can help with the admin.

However, you don't have to go back to the same sixth form or college if you don't want to, especially if you feel like you didn't get the quality of teaching or support you needed to succeed the first time. You can look at other sixth forms or colleges in your area and ask if they have spaces for exam resits, but they might prioritise space for existing students.

Can you retake A levels without going back to school?

We know that the idea of going back to sixth form or college for another year can be tough, but luckily, there is the option to retake your A levels without having to go back. You'll need to register as a private candidate, which means you'll have to either study for your exams independently or with a private tutor. This is a good option if you want flexibility or to work part-time while studying, but you will need to pay for a private tutor, whereas going back to school would most likely be a free option.

When it comes to retaking your A levels in May/June, you will need to sit them in a school or college, and you will need to find somewhere and submit an application yourself. The process is usually straightforward, but most sixth forms and colleges charge an admin fee for private candidates. It's worth keeping this in mind when deciding whether to go back to school or look at alternative options.

How much does it cost to retake A levels?

The downside is that you will have to pay to retake your A levels. There are two things to consider: the course fee and the exam fee.

The course fee is the cost of you taking a year of sixth form or college again. If you're under 19, it's usually possible to resit the course again for free at your sixth form or college, but there may be some fees required. It's best to talk to your sixth form or college as soon as possible to discuss the options. If you're applying as an independent candidate, you'll need to look for a tutor and discuss what they charge.

However, if it's been a few years since you took your exams, you'll most likely have to pay to resit the whole course which could cost up to £2,000.

The exam fee can vary depending on the exam board, but you can expect to pay between £65-200 depending on your subject and location. Every student retaking A levels will have to pay the exam fee, but in some cases your sixth form or college might be able to offer support with these costs, so it's worth asking.

How to get A levels remarked

Another option is to get your A levels remarked. If you don't want to resit the whole course or delay university for a year, it might be worth a second opinion on your exam paper, especially if your grade felt surprising or didn't reflect the work you put in.

Remarks can sometimes lead to a higher grade, but it's important to have realistic expectations. A remark doesn't guarantee an improvement and, in some cases, your grade could even go down. The remarked result will be your final grade— so if you had a B and were aiming for an A, it could come back as a C, which would be your new and final mark.

The process usually takes 3–4 weeks. If you're unhappy with your results and want a remark, let your sixth form or college know as soon as possible. You should also update your chosen university if you've already been offered a place, as your grades may change. If you're waiting on a remark to confirm an offer, you can still apply via clearing until the 20th October 2025.

Remarks typically cost between £40–£60 per exam paper. Some exam boards also offer priority marking for an extra fee, which is useful if you need results quickly to secure a uni place.

You can also get your GCSEs remarked, too, which is a good option if you know you don't want to resit a GCSE subject but would like a second opinion.

How to retake GCSEs

While failing most GCSE subjects won't affect you later in life, the majority of entry-level jobs will ask for you to have your English & Maths GCSEs at grade 4 or above. If you want to retake your Maths or English GCSEs again, it's super easy to do this.

If you're a current year 11 student, you can choose to resit your Maths or English GCSE in autumn so if you get a grade you're not happy with, you only have to wait a few months to try again. You'll need to tell your school you want to resit, and they can arrange this for you. For other subjects, you'll need to wait until the May/June exam period the following year.

Like A levels, you can also retake your GCSEs as a private candidate. This is a good option if you'd rather wait until the next summer, or if you want to retake a different subject. You can find a private tutor or study independently without having to go back to school, but like like A levels, you'll have to pay the exam fee to retake your GCSEs as a private candidate.

Another option is that you can also resit your Maths and English GCSEs in college, which means you won't have to stay back a year, can study alongside your new college course or A levels and you won't have to pay anything. Colleges are much more flexible than schools and sixth forms and you can discuss your options when you're applying to college.

Retakes and remarks might feel like a setback, but they're actually a second chance to get where you want to be. Whether you're boosting your A level grades, getting papers remarked, or tackling GCSE Maths and English again, there are plenty of routes forward. Remember that loads of students go through this every year, and it doesn't define your future. What matters is finding the option that works best for you and keeping your goals in sight.

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