The Student Room Group

How does retaking A-levels and reapplying to uni work ?

So you know when you apply for universities/ courses on UCAS and they ask for our predicted grade - how would that work if you retake your A-levels ? would I have to put in my previous A level grade ?
Lets say the course entry requirements are AAA but in my recent exams I got CCC.
Its unlikely I would be given an offer even if I get AAA grades when I resit.
In that case would I have to take another year off after my resit and then reapply with my resit grades ?
Id appreciate any answers if anyone knows anything :smile:
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 1

You must declare all of your previous subjects/grades - even if you are retaking.
Most Unis are happy to consider those retaking A levels with no disadvantage.

Reply 2

Original post by McGinger
You must declare all of your previous subjects/grades - even if you are retaking.
Most Unis are happy to consider those retaking A levels with no disadvantage.

Thank you - so my previous grades wouldn't necessarily affect my chances ? Do you know if Russel groups are less lenient with retakes ?

Reply 3

Original post by Ness79
Thank you - so my previous grades wouldn't necessarily affect my chances ? Do you know if Russel groups are less lenient with retakes ?

You need to contact RG Unis and ask - most will be okay with it, but its worth checking before you apply.

Reply 4

Original post by McGinger
You need to contact RG Unis and ask - most will be okay with it, but its worth checking before you apply.

Alright that makes sense thank you so much !
It’s more to do with the competitiveness of the specific course. The Russell Group distinction is meaningless for the purposes of admissions.

As above, disadvantaging retake candidates is something unis will advise you if you ask them.

Reply 6

It really depends uni to uni, as said above. Many unis won’t mind or won’t mind too much but competitive courses/unis might mind.
However they may look at it differently if there were some extenuating circumstances that caused you to perform worse, in that case, when it comes to competitive unis it doesn’t mean you’ll have a lower chance, for example from my experience Oxbridge actually consider circumstances more than for example Edinburgh, as they spend more time on each application and have more non grade data.
Hi @Ness79

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've been having with your A levels. You do have to declare all your grades in your application, but most universities don't mind/don't take into consideration the previous grades as long as your most recent grades are high enough for the entry requirements. I can't speak for all universities, but in my experience it wasn't an issue for me.

Wish you the best!
Jen (UoS student rep)

Reply 8

Original post by Uni of Southampton Students
Hi @Ness79
I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you've been having with your A levels. You do have to declare all your grades in your application, but most universities don't mind/don't take into consideration the previous grades as long as your most recent grades are high enough for the entry requirements. I can't speak for all universities, but in my experience it wasn't an issue for me.
Wish you the best!
Jen (UoS student rep)

That's reassuring thank you for your response ! My concern is that when I apply on UCAS for my university course - before I have taken the resit and received my grades - I wont even be considered for an offer as they would only have my previous A-level grades to base their decision on (which wouldn't match the entry requirements). Do you know if there's a different process for giving out offers for students who are resitting but haven't done the exam yet ? or would I have to take 2 years off so I can apply once I have my resit grades ?

Reply 9

Original post by Ness79
That's reassuring thank you for your response ! My concern is that when I apply on UCAS for my university course - before I have taken the resit and received my grades - I wont even be considered for an offer as they would only have my previous A-level grades to base their decision on (which wouldn't match the entry requirements). Do you know if there's a different process for giving out offers for students who are resitting but haven't done the exam yet ? or would I have to take 2 years off so I can apply once I have my resit grades ?

You can get predicted grades again and would get predicted grades so they would base it on that, these would be given by your UCAS referee which may be your previous school but can be some independent referee as well

Reply 10

Original post by JustBenjamin
You can get predicted grades again and would get predicted grades so they would base it on that, these would be given by your UCAS referee which may be your previous school but can be some independent referee as well

ohhh alright I understand now that's a massive relief - thank you so so much !!

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