A-Level Resits: Everything You Need to Know
- Educo London
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Resitting your A Levels can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to decide between college, private tutoring, or even balancing it alongside university. To make things simpler, we’ve broken down the most common questions students ask about A Level resits.
Q. Should I resit my A Levels at college or with a private tutor?
College resits:
Group lessons with a fixed timetable and pace for the whole class.
Teachers cover the entire syllabus rather than just your weak areas.
Less personalised attention (teachers manage a whole class).
Exam board may not match the one you previously studied.
Usually requires a termly or yearly financial commitment (if not funded).
Exam registration is typically handled by the college.
Private tutoring resits:
1:1 personalised lessons tailored to your needs.
Flexible schedule that fits around you.
Tutors can focus only on the topics you struggle with.
Easier to find a tutor who works with your specific exam board.
Payment can often be monthly, no long tie-ins.
You’ll need to book and pay for exams yourself through a registered exam centre.
Summary: If you want structure and are okay with committing to a whole year, college can work. If you prefer flexibility and targeted support, private tutoring is usually the better option.
Q. What happens with practical exams if I’m resitting?
If you passed your practical assessment in Year 13, most universities will still accept that grade, you usually don’t need to redo it.
If you need to resit the practical, some exam centres do offer this option, but not all. You’ll need to check when booking.
Q. How do I get predicted grades for UCAS if I’m resitting privately?
To apply to university through UCAS, you’ll need predicted grades.
A tutor or centre must have worked with you consistently (not just once or twice) to provide a fair prediction.
They need to see your progress through lessons, assignments, or mock exams.
If asked by UCAS or the university, your tutor/centre should be able to provide evidence of how they arrived at the prediction.
Tip:Â Start lessons early so your tutor has enough time to confidently predict your grades.
Q. Can I resit A Levels a year later, or does it have to be the next academic year?
You can resit later, but how universities view this depends on the course. Here are some examples:
Medicine at King’s College London – prefers A Levels completed within Year 12–13. They may only consider later resits if you had serious mitigating circumstances.
Maths at Warwick – resits are accepted between Year 12–13, but after that, they’re unlikely to be considered without a strong reason.
University of Bath – more flexible, accepts resits with new predicted grades. If your results are more than 3 years old, they may set extra conditions.
Always check with the universities you’re applying to before deciding.
Q. Can I resit A Levels while already at university?
Yes — UCAS confirms it’s possible. But it’s not always advised:
You’ll need to balance your current university workload with A Level revision.
Speak to your academic advisor at university before committing.
Think carefully about whether this is manageable for you.
Final Thoughts
Resitting A Levels isn’t just about exams, it’s about creating the right plan for your future. Whether you choose college or private tutoring, the key is to get proper support, register with the right exam centre, and secure the predicted grades you need.