GANFYD's "Which medical schools accept retake A-Levels" list

So none of the medical schools have changed their stance on the autumn exams? I emailed them myself and they replied but this was before the government u-turn. Some of them replied after the u-turn so I know 2 that will still take the autumn exams as first attempts and will accept a combo of grades from summer and autumn, but idk about the others. Today is the final day to enter for the exams as well. Is the information on their website or should I go based on what they told me?

I would think it makes more sense to enter the autumn exams as I believe you can then withdraw at anytime (you may have to pay a fee) but you won't be able to enter later if you decided you want to do the autumn exams

I have already entered for two, I’m just worried if the schools have changed their stance and I have to take _all_ the exams because I’ve only entered for 2, not all 3

That is a tough one and depends on what med schools you want to go to. Personally I doubt they would change from the information they have verbally given you, however you can't prove it unless it is in writing. Some schools are doing a combination, others are doing one sitting autumn or summer. Any way I think 4th is the last date to enter for exams apply so you could email them today and hope for a response by tomorrow.

Is lancaster the only BMAT university u can apply to if you plan to take the exams in the summer 2021. Have any other universities become more lenient/ change their policies such as Imperial/ leeds/ UCL?

All the up to date info I am aware of is in the first post. Please post if you hear anything new

Newcastle, (expect an A* in any resat subject)
Sheffield, (1 resit attempt only)
Bristol, (1 resit attempt per subject)
HYMS (BBB first sitting)
UEA, (ABB/AAC first sitting and an A* in one resit)
Keele (but only with achieved AAA grades, not pending),
Liverpool, (ABB first sitting)
Manchester, (BBB first sitting and A*AA needed 2nd time)
Leicester, (ABB first sitting)
Nottingham (and Lincoln), (ABB first sitting)
Plymouth, (ABB first sitting)
Exeter, (no restrictions)
Southampton, (1 resit attempt only)
ARU, (no restrictions)
Sunderland (AAB first sitting or resit all three)
Edge Hill, (no restrictions)
Kings (though they do say “applications from students that have achieved, or are predicted to achieve our typical entry requirements in the first sitting, may be more competitive overall than students who have not reached the grades required upon the first attempt”),
Queen’s University Belfast (Resit candidates are only considered if they previously held an offer from Queen’s at the first attempt and made it their conditional firm choice). Need A*AB/AAA at A-level or AAB at A-level plus A in a fourth AS-level at first attempt.

There is also BSMS (AAB first sitting) and Lancaster (ABB first sitting) if you do BMAT.

Edited for 2021 entry (I suspect the first of many):
Aston's new requirements for 2021 entry
"Applicants who have resat, or are resitting GCSEs, A Levels, or equivalent qualifications, with or without repeating an academic year, will be considered. The referee must provide a brief explanation of the reason (s) for the resit in the UCAS reference."

Birmingham we will consider a UCAS application without bias on the basis of future examination grades (achieved either in autumn 2020 or summer 2021; each subject must be examined in only one sitting). However, in order for us to consider your application, your current Centre-Assessed Grades must be provided and be no more than two grades below the offer that would apply to your application (i.e. ABB for standard offer; BBB for contextual; BBC for our Pathways to Birmingham applicants). The relevant offer grades must still be met. We will accept a combination of CAGs and examination grades when we evaluate the final profile and accept the higher of the two grades for each subject.

HYMS have clarified that if you are to resit your A levels you must resit all ones you are planning to resit either in Autumn or Summer, you cannot spread them out and sit some at either sitting.


Bristol and Sheffield have clarified they will accept a mix and match of exams sat at either sitting (but then both accept resits now and although Bristol say just one sitting, the Oct exams are clearly not being considered a resit)


Please read further down the thread for specific conditions relating to CAGs/resits for the 2020 cohort applying in 2021

Hello, from the universities which require ABB for the first sitting, does AAC compensate for the 2 B's or would I not be eligible? Thank you.

Really useful info on the first page @GANFYD thank you.

Only one request if you can add what grades the uni requires from the Resit candidates will also be useful alongside the info on what previous grades they need in first sit to be eligible ( this info you already given by you).

Newcastle, (expect an A* in any resat subject)
Sheffield, (1 resit attempt only)
Bristol, (1 resit attempt per subject)
HYMS (BBB first sitting)
UEA, (ABB/AAC first sitting and an A* in one resit)
Keele (but only with achieved AAA grades, not pending),
Liverpool, (ABB first sitting)
Manchester, (BBB first sitting and A*AA needed 2nd time)
Leicester, (ABB first sitting)
Nottingham (and Lincoln), (ABB first sitting)
Plymouth, (ABB first sitting)
Exeter, (no restrictions)
Southampton, (1 resit attempt only)
ARU, (no restrictions)
Sunderland (AAB first sitting or resit all three)
Edge Hill, (no restrictions)
Kings (though they do say “applications from students that have achieved, or are predicted to achieve our typical entry requirements in the first sitting, may be more competitive overall than students who have not reached the grades required upon the first attempt”),
Queen’s University Belfast (Resit candidates are only considered if they previously held an offer from Queen’s at the first attempt and made it their conditional firm choice). Need A*AB/AAA at A-level or AAB at A-level plus A in a fourth AS-level at first attempt.

There is also BSMS (AAB first sitting) and Lancaster (ABB first sitting) if you do BMAT.

Edited for 2021 entry (I suspect the first of many):
Aston's new requirements for 2021 entry
"Applicants who have resat, or are resitting GCSEs, A Levels, or equivalent qualifications, with or without repeating an academic year, will be considered. The referee must provide a brief explanation of the reason (s) for the resit in the UCAS reference."

Birmingham we will consider a UCAS application without bias on the basis of future examination grades (achieved either in autumn 2020 or summer 2021; each subject must be examined in only one sitting). However, in order for us to consider your application, your current Centre-Assessed Grades must be provided and be no more than two grades below the offer that would apply to your application (i.e. ABB for standard offer; BBB for contextual; BBC for our Pathways to Birmingham applicants). The relevant offer grades must still be met. We will accept a combination of CAGs and examination grades when we evaluate the final profile and accept the higher of the two grades for each subject.

HYMS have clarified that if you are to resit your A levels you must resit all ones you are planning to resit either in Autumn or Summer, you cannot spread them out and sit some at either sitting.


Bristol and Sheffield have clarified they will accept a mix and match of exams sat at either sitting (but then both accept resits now and although Bristol say just one sitting, the Oct exams are clearly not being considered a resit)


Please read further down the thread for specific conditions relating to CAGs/resits for the 2020 cohort applying in 2021

Hi I have a question. My CAG is BCC but I'm confident I can get the 3 As in the summer exams. Can you let me know which ones I could apply to if I don't take the Autumn exams (so summer is my first sitting)

Hello, from the universities which require ABB for the first sitting, does AAC compensate for the 2 B's or would I not be eligible? Thank you.

I got AAC and when I was looking at unis the ones that for sure don’t care are Southampton. Exeter and Bristol. There’s a few more that don’t care but you’d have to get an A* and there’s a few more now that are putting their requirements aside for this year. It’s a bit outdated because I’m no longer reapply as my uni ended up taking me but hopefully that was some was useful idk.

In a typical year those not caring about previously acquired grades are:
Anglia Ruskin
Bristol 

Exeter 

Sheffield 

Southampton

Sunderland (but must resit all 3)
Kings
Edge Hill


But nothing about this year is typical and it may be that many of them waive first minimum requirements this year

Hello, do you think this will be the case for 2022 entry too?

In a typical year those not caring about previously acquired grades are:
Anglia Ruskin
Bristol 

Exeter 

Sheffield 

Southampton

Sunderland (but must resit all 3)
Kings
Edge Hill


But nothing about this year is typical and it may be that many of them waive first minimum requirements this year

Sheffield, (1 resit attempt only)
Bristol, (1 resit attempt per subject)
UEA, (ABB/AAC first sitting and an A* in one resit)
ARU, (no restrictions)

Bristol and Sheffield have clarified they will accept a mix and match of exams sat at either sitting (but then both accept resits now and although Bristol say just one sitting, the Oct exams are clearly not being considered a resit)