A LEVEL RETAKES 2025

Results & Destinations:

A level grades 43% A*-A and 80% A*-B (2024)

83% of A level retake students placed at Russell Group universities (2024)

We would like to congratulate all of the students at Westminster Tutors Independent Sixth Form College and around the country for finishing their A level exams in summer 2025.

There is no doubt that everyone is facing a nervous wait for A level results day on 14 August 2025. Many of you may be feeling unsure and thinking about whether you can retake your A levels and how you can do this.

Retaking A levels at our private sixth form college continues to be a popular choice, and our impressive success rate speaks for itself – last year 83% of our A level retake students placed at Russell Group universities.

This article is for anyone who is thinking about resitting A levels this year and aims to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about A level retakes.

What you’ll find in this article

Why resit?
When and how to book?
Cost breakdown
University stance on resits
Top tips for success

Students celebrate their A-Level results

Why resit?

Can I redo A levels?

The simple answer to this question is yes! If your A level grades aren’t what you are hoping for this summer, you can book a tailor-made A level retake course at Westminster Tutors now. Every year we are fortunate to witness the outstanding progress and remarkable exam results achieved by the A level retake students at our sixth form college.

Why Should you resit A levels?

Once you have received your A level results, there are a number of different outcomes:

go to university as planned
enter Clearing to find a different place
take a gap year
start an apprenticeship or job
retake your A levels

If you miss out on the required A level grades for your chosen university, many of these options are still available to you. However, if your heart was set on one specific university or course, then your best option would likely be an A level retake course, as it will allow you to have a second chance at getting the grades you need to attend the university of your dreams.

On the other hand, you might have been accepted at your chosen university even though you did not achieve the A level grades you wanted. Another scenario is taking a gap year, which could turn into a new opportunity to improve your A level grades. The different options available to you do not have to be mutually exclusive either: it is very possible to start a university course at the same time as retaking one or two A level subjects.

When and how to book?

When is A level Results Day?

For students who sat A level exams in June 2025, A level results day will take place on Thursday 14 August 2025. Results are released to students from 8am.

For more information and support on receiving your results, you can read our dedicated article on What happens on A level results day.

What does my UCAS application status mean?

You can log in to UCAS on results day to see if your UCAS application status is confirmed, unconditional, still conditional, or if you have been placed into Clearing.

For further details about your application status and the options which are open to you, you can read our dedicated article on UCAS options on A level results day.

When are A level resits 2025?

A level resits are available once per year in the summer, so the next resit opportunity for students who sat A level exams in June 2025 will be June 2026. Each exam board has published their A level exams timetable on their websites, which are linked below.

AQA
Edexcel
OCR
Eduqas

Can you resit A levels in November 2025?

Unfortunately, JCQ exam boards no longer run an exam session for autumn retakes, so this will not be available for resit students in October or November 2025. The only exceptions are international A levels, offered by Cambridge and Edexcel, which are available in October 2025 or January 2026, although most UK schools and A level exam centres do not usually offer these qualifications.

How can you book an A level retake course?

At Westminster Tutors, we run bespoke courses for A level resits from September 2025, but students can also join later in the academic year depending on college capacity and teacher availability.

Can you resit A level exams privately?

Westminster Tutors is a JCQ-registered exam centre, and can enter private candidates to sit any written A level exams. You can find out more about booking exams privately here.

Cost breakdown

How much will it cost to resit my A levels?

A level retake fees at Westminster Tutors differ depending on the number of subjects you are resitting. A summary of the annual fees is provided in the table below.

One-year A level retake course	Total cost
3 A level subjects	£38,000
2 A level subjects	£26,450
1 A level subject	£14,750
January-June A level retake course	Cost per subject
1 A level subject	£9,100
1 A level intensive	£18,200

The fees include bespoke tuition, weekly study skills and pastoral mentoring, dedicated UCAS support, a personal tutor, in addition to full access to all activities and facilities at the college. You can find more detailed information at our fees section.

Do I have to pay exam fees?

A level exam entry fees are charged at a cost of £350 per subject for our own students. For private candidates, the cost is £600 per A level subject. It is important to meet the entry deadline of 15 February, as the fees will double after this date. If you require any access arrangements, there may be additional fees to process this.

Students reviewing options with their tutor

University stance on resits

Do universities accept retake students?

In general, universities will happily make offers to students who are retaking their A levels. There may be some top universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, and highly competitive courses like Medicine, which will not consider retake students unless there are strong mitigating circumstances. Every university is different though, so it is best to check the individual entry requirements for the course and university you are applying for. It may be the case that some universities will have higher grade requirements for resit students, so you may need to work on improving your A level results by two or more grades.

Will I have to redo my UCAS application?

If you are retaking your A levels and reapplying for UCAS, you will need to start a new UCAS application. Sometimes your previous school may support your new application while you retake at another college, but it is normally better to reapply with the same college where you are resitting your A levels.

At Westminster Tutors, we provide dedicated UCAS support and expertise for each and every one of our A level retake students. Our Senior Consultant and Director of Studies meets with each student individually and guides them through the entire process, including gathering references and predicted grades, to ensure the best shot at getting offers from their first-choice universities.

Top tips for success

Resitting A levels – What’s the Process?

At Westminster Tutors our retake courses are all individually designed in such a way to suit the particular needs of each student. In addition, our courses are almost always taught one-to-one, and this means that retake students can continue studying the same exam boards and options as previously. This also enables teachers to collaborate with each student in devising a unique scheme of work so that they can optimise their A level exam success.

Our retake students are encouraged to complete as many past papers as possible over the course of the academic year. At Westminster Tutors, we schedule formal mock exams at the end of the autumn and spring terms, and we also run timed and invigilated sessions on a regular basis for students to get used to sitting A level papers under exam conditions. This also gives teachers the chance to provide formative feedback and identify areas of improvement, so that our students can feel completely prepared for their final A level exams.

Do you have to resit all components?

A level qualifications are linear, which means that you have to take all of the papers in the same exam session. Previously, you were able to pick and choose which units you wanted to resit, but unfortunately, this is no longer the case.

For subjects with a non-examined assessment (NEA) component such as English, History and Geography, retake students have an option to carry forward their previous mark. This means that there is no requirement to re-submit their work and nothing will be re-marked. However, if students do not want to carry forward their NEA, there is no obligation to do so, and they can submit a new piece of work to hopefully improve their mark.

The same is true for modern foreign languages like French, German and Spanish, where students can carry forward a previous oral exam mark, and the practical endorsement for the science subjects Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

What are some tips on retaking A levels?

Determination for improvement: the first step to success is visualising it and putting in the effort to realise your goals
Bite size chunks: don’t cram all your revision to the last minute and organise your time sensibly
Exercise your skills: practise, practise, practise!
One-to-one tuition: focus on the specific areas of weakness you need to improve

Read our dedicated article for more about these top tips for success.

If you have any questions about A level retakes, contact us now and arrange a visit!

Frequently asked questions

Where can I retake A levels?

You can retake A levels at a school, sixth form college, online distance learning provider or even with a private tutor. Westminster Tutors is an independent sixth form college with a long and successful history of delivering A level retake courses.

When are A level retakes 2025?

Our A level retake courses normally run from September 2025 to June 2026. It is also possible to start in January 2026 for a six month course, or another point during the year, due to the flexible nature of our courses.

What are the advantages of resitting A levels?

Resitting A levels gives you the chance to improve your A level grades so that you can get into your first-choice university. You will develop a better understanding of your subjects and find yourself more prepared for the next stage of your academic life.

What are the disadvantages of A level retakes?

It may initially feel like a step back and there’s never a guarantee that you will improve your A level grades. You will have to ensure that you put in the work and effort required to make the most of your retake year.

How can I book an A level retake course?

Simply get in touch via phone or our enquiry form to arrange a visit to the college to discuss your individual requirements. We will then send you a registration form so that you can confirm your place on our retake course.

How much does it cost to resit A levels?

If you are retaking one A level subject, the yearly cost is £14,750. For two subjects, this is £26,450, and for three subjects, the cost is £38,000.

Do universities accept A level resits?

Most universities will still accept retake students. Each university will have their own entry requirements, so you should check with the admissions departments to see if they ask for higher grades, for example, or only consider retake students with strong mitigating circumstances.

Do I have to resit all my exams?

You will need to resit all the components of the A level in the summer exam series, and these will determine your new A level grade. The only exception to this is the NEA (non-examined assessment), which can be carried forward from a previous year.

Can I register as a private candidate?

Westminster Tutors is registered with the JCQ as an exam centre for private candidates. We offer a wide range of exams with the AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas exam boards.

What’s the best place for A level retakes?

With a proven success rate, Westminster Tutors Independent Sixth Form College is the best choice for A level retakes! We deliver bespoke A level retake courses with a level of individual attention that is matched by no other college. Book now for a place starting in September 2025.