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HOW DOES RESITTING WORK (dentistry)

So i got ACC in a level psych bio and chem, but i wanna be a dentist so obviously its not good enough and i don't want to do the biomed route so i decided to resit Bio and Chem.
BUT MY COLLEGE IS SO USELESS they aren't being helpful in letting me know the whole process on how it works and i cant find many online resources.

my main questions are:
1. Does it cost money to take the exams at an exam centre if i apply as a 'private candidate' - if i does how much?
2. So i'm taking eduqas Biology but AQA chemistry so do i have to find an exam centre compatible with that or do i provide the exams? - because eduqas bio is so unknown but i cant switch exam boards now because there isnt gonna be enough time to learn new stuff
3. if im a private candidate then who decides my predicted grades and who writes my reference???
4. Do i have to redo all the coursework i did while at school when i resit or does it just get like carried over?

If anybody can please help me answer some or all of my questions i will be so grateful im so confused and stressed out i just need help.
(I cant get a private tutor because its too expensive)
Btw i already booked my UCAT for september 13th wish me luck ;c

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Reply 1

Hi, I also am planning to resit this year and my school allows resits but I still have to pay so yes, you do have to pay if you are a private candidate. In terms of the exact price, it varies according to what a levels and exam boards you do, but first I recommend asking your school if they will allow you to resit and if not looking for the closest centre. Here is a website you can use to find this:
www.cife.org.uk or just search up a level private centres near your location
You can get in contact with your sixth form/ college teachers and ask if they would be willing to write a reference and in terms of predicted grades you can decide them yourself, so maybe put them one grade above what you achieved this year, or just do mocks at another college but i think this is the more complicated option. In terms of coursework and providing the exams yourself, I'm not really sure but I hope this helps you out nonetheless!

I'm in the same boat as I wanted to apply to Pharmacy this year but didn't get the grades, so hopefully retaking will go well this yearr. Good luck in the meantimee
btw, I'm also redoing aqa a level chemistry so if you need any advice just message me :smile:
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

Original post
by S_340
Hi, I also am planning to resit this year and my school allows resits but I still have to pay so yes, you do have to pay if you are a private candidate. In terms of the exact price, it varies according to what a levels and exam boards you do, but first I recommend asking your school if they will allow you to resit and if not looking for the closest centre. Here is a website you can use to find this:
www.cife.org.uk or just search up a level private centres near your location
You can get in contact with your sixth form/ college teachers and ask if they would be willing to write a reference and in terms of predicted grades you can decide them yourself, so maybe put them one grade above what you achieved this year, or just do mocks at another college but i think this is the more complicated option. In terms of coursework and providing the exams yourself, I'm not really sure but I hope this helps you out nonetheless!
I'm in the same boat as I wanted to apply to Pharmacy this year but didn't get the grades, so hopefully retaking will go well this yearr. Good luck in the meantimee
btw, I'm also redoing aqa a level chemistry so if you need any advice just message me :smile:

Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(i will get in touch most likely chemistry is HELL 😭)

Reply 3

Original post
by Samuraiurmadre
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(i will get in touch most likely chemistry is HELL 😭)

No problem and RIGHT organic chemistry will be the death of me
Keep an eye on which dentistry schools accept resits:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/courses/dentistry/dentistry-entry-requirements

(list is a couple of years old but most will be the same)

Reply 5

Original post
by Samuraiurmadre
So i got ACC in a level psych bio and chem, but i wanna be a dentist so obviously its not good enough and i don't want to do the biomed route so i decided to resit Bio and Chem.
BUT MY COLLEGE IS SO USELESS they aren't being helpful in letting me know the whole process on how it works and i cant find many online resources.
my main questions are:
1. Does it cost money to take the exams at an exam centre if i apply as a 'private candidate' - if i does how much?
2. So i'm taking eduqas Biology but AQA chemistry so do i have to find an exam centre compatible with that or do i provide the exams? - because eduqas bio is so unknown but i cant switch exam boards now because there isnt gonna be enough time to learn new stuff
3. if im a private candidate then who decides my predicted grades and who writes my reference???
4. Do i have to redo all the coursework i did while at school when i resit or does it just get like carried over?
If anybody can please help me answer some or all of my questions i will be so grateful im so confused and stressed out i just need help.
(I cant get a private tutor because its too expensive)
Btw i already booked my UCAT for september 13th wish me luck ;c

you ever thought about studying abroad? EU countries, their entry requirement lower much lower, and easier to get in, GDC recognized, only EU countries (don't go for non EU)

Reply 6

Original post
by zelzarrrrr
you ever thought about studying abroad? EU countries, their entry requirement lower much lower, and easier to get in, GDC recognized, only EU countries (don't go for non EU)

Yes i have thought about it!
i just need to do some more research about it because i'm not that informed on it :smile:

Reply 7

Some colleges do a level resits for free like Westminster Kingsway intensive A levels if you live in London. You don’t have to redo coursework either

Reply 8

Original post
by MillieeM2
Some colleges do a level resits for free like Westminster Kingsway intensive A levels if you live in London. You don’t have to redo coursework either


Oh my goodness I’ve just paid £800 to retake both a levels 🙂🥲 thank you though

Reply 9

Original post
by Samuraiurmadre
So i got ACC in a level psych bio and chem, but i wanna be a dentist so obviously its not good enough and i don't want to do the biomed route so i decided to resit Bio and Chem.
BUT MY COLLEGE IS SO USELESS they aren't being helpful in letting me know the whole process on how it works and i cant find many online resources.
my main questions are:
1. Does it cost money to take the exams at an exam centre if i apply as a 'private candidate' - if i does how much?
2. So i'm taking eduqas Biology but AQA chemistry so do i have to find an exam centre compatible with that or do i provide the exams? - because eduqas bio is so unknown but i cant switch exam boards now because there isnt gonna be enough time to learn new stuff
3. if im a private candidate then who decides my predicted grades and who writes my reference???
4. Do i have to redo all the coursework i did while at school when i resit or does it just get like carried over?
If anybody can please help me answer some or all of my questions i will be so grateful im so confused and stressed out i just need help.
(I cant get a private tutor because its too expensive)
Btw i already booked my UCAT for september 13th wish me luck ;c
go EU country they accepet Bcs Cs, i got C in A level and got into EU. country now working as dentist in UK

Reply 10

Original post
by zelzarrrrr
go EU country they accepet Bcs Cs, i got C in A level and got into EU. country now working as dentist in UK

Hi I’m in a similar position, can you tell me which EU universities will accept my C? Thank you !

Reply 11

Original post
by Sonali m
Hi I’m in a similar position, can you tell me which EU universities will accept my C? Thank you !
Apply to plogdiv entrance all the question past papers are all on their website it’s all repeated questions, you can easily get 100% on it chem bio all same. Plogdiv you just need to do Good in entrance, either that or Sofia, plgodiv is best for international, Bulgaria. Other EU countries want much higher and harder to get in, plgodiv Sofia easier

Reply 12

Original post
by zelzarrrrr
Apply to plogdiv entrance all the question past papers are all on their website it’s all repeated questions, you can easily get 100% on it chem bio all same. Plogdiv you just need to do Good in entrance, either that or Sofia, plgodiv is best for international, Bulgaria. Other EU countries want much higher and harder to get in, plgodiv Sofia easier
Thank you for the detailed response, so are you saying I can still apply to Plogdiv/ Sofia with my predicted grades of BCC without taking a gap year?

Reply 13

Original post
by Sonali m
Thank you for the detailed response, so are you saying I can still apply to Plogdiv/ Sofia with my predicted grades of BCC without taking a gap year?
Yeah but they do want like 1 C I think even with an E they accept as long as you do good in entrance exam

Reply 14

Original post
by zelzarrrrr
Yeah but they do want like 1 C I think even with an E they accept as long as you do good in entrance exam
Thank you! I’ll look into this, very helpful.

Reply 15

Original post
by Sonali m
Thank you! I’ll look into this, very helpful.

Im at UPJS, if you can afford it, it's better
5 year course (cheaper overall than any 6 year course)
They give you patients here (have to find your own in bulgaria)
ANY 3 A levels at pass only (they don't even bother with GCSEs)
Not an oversubscribed uni, so lots of room to practice freely

Reply 16

Original post
by the_stu_DENT
Im at UPJS, if you can afford it, it's better
5 year course (cheaper overall than any 6 year course)
They give you patients here (have to find your own in bulgaria)
ANY 3 A levels at pass only (they don't even bother with GCSEs)
Not an oversubscribed uni, so lots of room to practice freely
That’s Slovakia right? 🙏

Reply 17

Original post
by Sonali m
That’s Slovakia right? 🙏

Also is teaching in English?

Reply 18

Original post
by Sonali m
That’s Slovakia right? 🙏

Slovakia is 5 years, dental 5.5 Bulgaria, but Slovakia not many international students, so might get boring

Reply 19

Original post
by Sonali m
That’s Slovakia right? 🙏

Yes correct, and to answer your other question, it's all in English, my mate graduated yesterday (also from the UK) the whole ceremony HAS to be in English for the degree to even be recognised as English taught, so everything's taught in English don't worry 🙂

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