What happens if you do worse in an A-Level Resit?

Resitting any exam is a big decision especially resitting A-levels which can be stressful.  For many students, resitting an a-level is a second chance to secure a better grade.  Students often resit their a-levels if they need a certain level to get into their university or course of their choice.  But what happens if you do worse in an A-Level resit?

In this article we will look at what happens when you do worse in a resit including how it may affect your future plans and what options are then available.

Will universities see both A-level grades?

Yes universities will see both A-level grades as students are expected to declare all the grades that they have achieved including both the original grade and the resit value.  However the good news is that universities usually consider the hughes grade achieved and not the most recent one, so which ever grade you get the best in, the university will often use that one when considering giving you a place at their university.

That means if your original grade was a B and your resit value was a C, they would use your B grade as long as you are transparent about the results in your application.

Could a lower resit grade affect your chances of getting into university?

Universities focus on your best grades so a worse resit score wont automatically stop you from getting a place, but there are some cases where it may.  Some competitive courses or universities may look at your resit history to see if they should give you a place.  While some universities will require you to achieve your grade in one single sitting, think of subjects such as medicine for example.

In some cases you may be asked to explain why you needed to resit an exam and what went wrong originally.

How about for apprenticeships and jobs?

When it comes to jobs or apprenticeships most employers will look at your highest grade, but in some cases they may look at your entire history, especially if the job is competitive.  However showing resilience when failing may also look good on your CV as it shows you aren’t a quiter.

Real student experiences

You aren’t alone when it comes to failing or getting a lower score than you expected.  We interviews some students in london to find out their experience with resits.  Emma, a student who wanted ti improve her A-Level chemistry grade from a C to a B received a D in her resit.  However, she was still able to get onto her dream course as she was accepted through clearing and explained her journey in her personal statement.

If your resit doesn’t go to plan, there are other ways to move forward:

• Access to Higher Education Diploma: These courses are designed for people who want to enter university without traditional qualifications. 
• BTECs or Foundation Courses: These are widely accepted by many universities and can open doors to your chosen degree later. 
• Open University or Distance Learning: A flexible option for students who want to continue studying without the pressure of retaking exams.

Looking after your wellbeing

Disappointing exam results can take a toll on your mental health, if you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about any exams talk to your tutor, your parents or even your friends and don’t panic.  Life has unexpected twists and turns and what may seem like the end of the world right now may only be a small blip in your fantastic career.

Being a student is hard, but running out of storage space shouldn’t be a problem.  At Urban Locker we have student storage available in both Islington and Bond Street.