Navigating the A Level exam process can be challenging, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we may not achieve the desired results on the first attempt. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry—retaking your A Level exams as a private candidate offers a valuable second chance to improve your grades.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the essential steps to retake your A Levels as a private candidate including:
- the registration process for A Levels
- finding an accredited exam centre to take your exams
- successful study strategies and tips for exam day
Can You Resit Your Your A Levels As A Private Candidate?
Yes, there's no problem resitting A Level exams privately without being enrolled in a college. It's common for students to choose this option if they need to improve their grades for university admission, meet specific course requirements, or achieve personal academic goals.
As a private candidate for A levels, you can choose to study independently or with the help of tutors. Firstly, you'll need to register with an accredited exam centre accepting private candidates and ensure you meet the necessary deadlines and requirements.
Why Re-Sit Your A-Levels?
By all accounts, A-Levels are gruelling and there are options open to those who didn’t quite hit the mark the first time around.
You don't need to give up on your career goals - but you might need to start looking at different routes to get there, including university programmes and potential re sit options
You might be surprised to learn waiting for UCAS Clearing open season to submit your UCAS application might bring you conditional offers you thought you couldn’t get with the A Level results you have.
One reason that can work in your favour is that it demonstrates commitment, determination, and the ability to work independently - qualities that universities value highly when it comes to their applicants.
While there's often talk of how admission boards frown on A Level retakes, the reality is actually quite different. Most universities will happily accept students needing an extra year to reach the grades they desire, provided they explain their reasons clearly in their UCAS personal statement.
Unfortunately, burnout is another common reason why many students re sit A levels as well. As a result, a re-sit year can offer you some much needed breathing space, especially with options like online or self directed study - many of which credit your previous work toward your final results.
Find out how that and other exam re-sit policies work for both A-Levels and GCSEs…
How Much Does It Cost to Resit A Levels?
Wondering how much it will cost to retake your A levels? Let's break it down together.
Retaking A Levels privately can cost between £1,500 to £9,000 for tuition, plus exam fees ranging from £175 to £400 per subject, depending on the mode of study and exam centre. Online courses are typically more affordable, starting at around £350 per subject.
- Course Fees: Tuition fees can range from around £1,500 to upwards of £9,000 per subject for in-person classes at private colleges. Online courses are generally more affordable, starting at around £350 per subject.
- Exam Fees: Exam fees are an additional cost and can vary depending on the exam centre. Typically, these fees range from £175 to £400 per subject. Some specialized courses with practical components may have higher fees, such as up to £1,431.
- Other Options:
- School: Retaking A Levels at your original school can be the cheapest option, as many schools only charge the exam fees and waive the tuition costs.
- College/Sixth Form: Attending a new college or sixth form will likely involve both tuition and exam fees, but this option can provide a structured learning environment and access to additional support
- Online: Studying online offers flexibility and can be more budget-friendly. You’ll still need to arrange and pay for sitting your exams at a local exam centre.
Additional Costs: Don't forget to budget for textbooks and materials, which may add another £100-£200 per subject. Likewise, if you choose to hire a private tutor, hourly rates will typically set you back around £30 to £50 - so budget accordingly!
When Is A Level Resits Day 2025?
In the UK, A-level examinations are typically held during the May/June exam series, with results released in mid-August. For 2025, A-level results day is scheduled for Thursday, 14 August 2025.
August 14, 2025 12:41 pm
To determine the exact resit dates for your specific subjects, you'll need to follow these steps:
Are There Any Limitations in Resitting the A Level Exams?
While retaking your A levels can give you a valuable second chance in terms of academic success, there are some restrictions you'll need to wrap your head around.
As of 2025, A levels are now fully linear, meaning AS exam results don't count towards your final grade. Due to this, you'll need to sit all exams again during the May/June exam window.
Aditionally, if your original exam was with AQA, Edexcel, or Cambridge International, you're in the a good position. Why? well, these awarding bodies are widely supported by UK exam centres, meaning you'll have an easier time finding a centre near you that can host your retake. In contrast, OCR and WJEC (Eduquas) also offer resits but they are generally more challenging to find - particularly outside of Wales.
Now, for the third and most harsh stumbling block: depending on the school or college you choose, you may only select from a limited number of subjects for your A-Levels re-sit. Or worse: they may not permit re-sits at all!
That's why it's incredibly important to plan early - research centres, confirm their subject availability, and make sure you're keenly aware of any extra fees or deadlines before registering.
Stressed over your re-sit? You might need some techniques for coping with exam failure…
Where To Re-Sit A-Levels
What Are Your Study Options for A Level Resits?
When it comes to re taking your A levels, one of the most important decisions you'll need to make is how (and where) you'll study. After all, each option has its own unique advantages depending on your budget, style of learning, and the subject requirements.
Re-sitting at School
Re-sitting A-Levels privately at a school can be a great option for students who want to improve their grades while maintaining a structured learning environment. Many schools allow external candidates to register for exams, though policies vary between institutions.
When resitting privately, students typically study independently or with private tutors, as they do not attend regular classes. However, they still benefit from taking their exams in a familiar setting with access to official invigilators.
Private A-Level Study in College or Sixth Form
In such a setting, you will attend class and follow the institution’s timetables, just as you would in school. Your exam will most likely take place at the college, with your classmates.
If you choose this option, you will have a lot of facilities to choose from; each offers extra advantages to help ensure your success:
- smaller class sizes
- different approaches to studying
- some such courses offer a personal tutor included in the price
- a focus on examination technique, not just curricular study
Some of these courses come with hefty price tags; if spending thousands of pounds does not appeal to you, you may well prefer to take online study courses.
Learning Online
Online courses give you freedom over you pace of learning and can easily be adapted into your schedule, making them a strong option if you're currently balancing other commitments in your life or prefer to learn through self guided methods.
Most also come with tutor support, taking away the stress of competing with other students for your teachers time and attention. Even better, the cost of online study courses are substantially cheaper than many other options out there - about 10% of the cost of independent colleges.
Preparing For Your A-Level Re-sits
Should you settle on re-sitting A-Levels privately, you will have to register for your exams and pay the fees – to the testing centre and to the exam board, on your own.
If you're planning to resit your exams next summer and seeking a structured approach, this video offers a comprehensive, tried-and-tested plan to help you succeed.
Mark your calendar! You will need to register about six months before you’re due to sit your exams and your fees must be paid before then.
If you miss out on your chance to re-sit due to scheduling errors or not having the funds to cover your fees, you will have lost an entire year without having anything good to show for it.
It would be a bit difficult to explain that on your university application, too.
A Brief Word on Rechecking
Some students, rather than re-sit exams, opt to have their original exams rechecked, especially if they are only a few points away from the higher mark they sought.
Doing so is entirely within your right but you should be aware that it can be a double-edged sword.
A recheck of your paper does not guarantee any mistakes found would be in your favour.
Some students have lamented the fact that they lost a few points on recheck and ended up having to retake the exam when, possibly, their original grade would have satisfied university requirements.
In light of that, it might be best to see what universities have to offer you before possibly jeopardising your possibly acceptable scores. Here again, it would be a great idea to talk with your teachers before making any decisions.
Whichever exam you are looking to resit – GCSEs or A-Levels, you probably need as much information as you can get…
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
