RESIT OR RETAKE?

If you didn’t achieve at least a Grade 4 in maths and/or English you’ll have to resit your GCSE to study A-levels, to embark on many apprenticeships and also for most universities. Many job offers also require these grades as a minimum. Currently, it is expected that there will be a full series of autumn exams (yes – actual exams rather than teacher- assessed grades or TAGs) in the autumn. However, only resit in November if you missed your required grade by a few marks as you will not have long to study and revise. The alternative is to retake the exam next summer.

Retakes can sometimes be done alongside study for BTecs and A-levels. Or if your grades have been impacted by Covid, you can study a year-long full-time GCSE programme, which allows you to study up to four subjects. Perhaps you can add some extra subjects, too. Once again, ask your teachers/tutors for advice.

Not every school will allow you to retake your GCSE English and maths next year – and yet you may have to return to your school (from college or another school) for your resit in the autumn. Make sure you understand the process (applying for the exam etc.) before deciding on your next step. TIP: When picking a school or college for retakes, check the support on offer and find out what the pass rate is. You don’t want to spend another year trying to gain a maths CGSE only to fail again.

NOTE: To embark on a GCSE retake programme you will generally need to have Grade 3 at GCSE. If your results were below a 3 and English and/or maths really is a challenge, consider an English or numeracy Functional Skills qualification instead.