What this guide covers
- What an A Level resit is
- When you can resit and which series
- Resitting at an international school or private centre
- How resits differ by exam board
- How universities view resits
- Frequently asked questions
What an A Level resit is
An A Level resit means sitting the assessment for a subject again in a later series in order to improve the grade. Since the reform that made A Levels in England linear, most boards examine the whole subject at the end of the course, so a resit usually means retaking every paper in that subject rather than a single module. The grade that stands is normally the better of your attempts, though the exact rule depends on the board and on whether the qualification is modular or linear. Families living abroad have the same right to resit as students in the United Kingdom, provided a centre near them offers the relevant series.
When you can resit and which series
The main opportunity to resit comes in the next summer series, held around May and June, one year after the first attempt. Some international students also have access to a winter series depending on the board and the region, which shortens the wait. Because a resit means carrying the subject for another cycle, students often use the intervening months for focused revision rather than repeating a full timetable of lessons. The important point is that no board lets you resit on demand at any time of year, so the calendar of available series shapes the whole plan.
Resitting at an international school or private centre
If you are still enrolled, the simplest route is to resit through your own school, which handles registration, coursework where relevant and the exam itself. Students who have left school, or who are moving between countries, usually sit as private candidates at an approved international exam centre, often run by a British school or a body such as a cultural institute. Not every centre accepts private candidates, and some accept them only for subjects without practical or coursework components, so it is worth confirming availability early. Private candidates pay entry fees directly and are responsible for meeting the registration deadline, which tends to fall several months before the exam.
Check the entry deadline before anything else
Resit entries close months before the exam, and international centres set their own cut off dates. Confirm the series and the closing date with your school or centre first, then read our guide to A Level grade boundaries to judge how close your original mark was.
How resits differ by exam board
The mechanics of a resit depend heavily on the board behind your qualification. A linear A Level from a United Kingdom board is retaken as a whole subject in the summer series. Cambridge International A Levels are offered in more than one series across the year in many regions, which gives overseas candidates a second window and, because the qualification is staged, some flexibility in what is carried forward. A modular International Advanced Level from another board allows individual units to be retaken and the best unit result to count, which can make a targeted resit less disruptive. Because these differences are significant, the first question for any resit is which board and specification you sat, and what its rules allow.
Our A Levels curriculum hub sets out how the qualification is structured across boards, which is useful background before you commit to a particular resit route.
How universities view resits
Most universities accept resit grades, and a stronger grade at the second attempt is generally treated on its merits. There are exceptions worth knowing about. A small number of highly competitive courses, and some medical and veterinary programmes, prefer or require grades achieved at the first sitting, or ask applicants to declare resits and explain them. Others make a slightly higher offer to resit applicants. None of this means a resit is a poor idea, but it does mean checking the admissions pages of your target courses before you decide, since the policy varies by university and by subject. Where a place hinges on a single grade, weighing the likely improvement against these course rules is the sensible final step.
Frequently asked questions
Can you resit A Levels while living abroad?
Yes. You can resit through your international school or as a private candidate at an approved exam centre overseas, provided a centre near you offers the relevant series and accepts entries for that subject.
Do universities accept A Level resit grades?
Most do and treat the improved grade on its merits, but some competitive courses, including certain medical programmes, prefer grades from the first sitting or ask you to declare a resit, so check each course before applying.
Which grade counts if you resit an A Level?
The better result normally stands. For modular qualifications the best unit results are combined, while for linear A Levels the higher overall grade from a full retake is the one you use.
When can you resit an A Level abroad?
The main window is the next summer series about a year later, though some boards offer an additional series in the year that gives overseas candidates an earlier chance to resit.