17 August 2023 , 16:18
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Students up and down the country will have headed back to school today to collect their A-level results and will have found out whether they got the grades they needed to earn their desired university place.
While hard work might have paid off for many, others might find themselves disappointed with their results or wishing they'd spent a little more time revising. If things didn't quite turn out the way you wanted or needed, it can be incredibly overwhelming and stressful.
But before you panic, it's important to remember that this is not the end and you have options available to you - including retaking your A-levels if you feel that's the best way forward. If you're considering resitting your exams, here's what you need to know...
There are several options for you... (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Can you retake A-levels?
Yes, you can. If you find that you've failed exams or simply want to improve your grades, then you have a few options – including retaking your A-levels. If you want to resit, you may be able to study again at your school, at a college or sixth-form, or even online, depending on your circumstances. There are also a number of specialist independent colleges that can help you achieve better results, though these are a more expensive option.
You're allowed to retake exams as many times as you want, although there are limits in the UK on how many times you can retake a particular subject, with most A-levels having an upper limit of four attempts, however, some subjects such as maths and English have no limitations. If you are retaking your exams, you will likely have to pay course fees and exam fees to cover the cost, which will vary depending on where you study.
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How do A-level resits work?
Changes to the A-levels system a few years ago mean that students are now unable to resit certain modules from an exam. Instead, they have to resit the entire A-level exam the following year in May or June as part of the new "linear" system, according to ICS Learn.
Essentially there is now only one exam window, rather than two under the previous "modular" system. This means there are less chances to take the exams and January resits are no longer an option. So if you want to resit, you'll have to wait a whole year to try again, regardless of whether you are studying online or at school.
But it is possible to carry forward your coursework mark from your previous attempt to save you having to redo it all. Under 25s support charity The Mix says when retaking A levels you can usually just redo the units you need to improve. Your best grade for each is taken into account by the exam board, so don't worry if you do worse the second time around. Changes are being introduced to many A-levels though, so you should check the ones you want to resit are still available and part of the overall subject.
Appealing your grades
If you aren't happy with the grades you received and think there might be some kind of error, you can always ask your school or college to request a review of the marking from the exam board. However, you might have to pay a fee for this if your grade isn't changed after a review - you also run the risk of lowering your grade if the exam board finds any marking mistakes.
You can then appeal your result through your school or college if you still think there has been a mistake. The exam board will then look at your work again and decide if your mark or grade needs correcting. If for some reason you don't think this appeal was handled properly by the board, you can then request a review from the exam watchdog through your school or college. This request must be received by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) within 21 days of you getting the exam board's appeal decision. Ofqual won't review your work but will consider whether the exam board followed procedures correctly and whether it complied with Ofqal rules.