resitting a levels 2025

hi,

i hope everyone’s well.
i was a medicine applicant for 2024 uni entry, but unfortunately received no interviews, no offers and missed my grades to reapply for the next cycle. it’s been very difficult to process this, i feel ashamed and angry at myself since grades were the one part of my application i felt most confident on, and after achieving all 8s and 9s at GCSE, and 3A*s 1A predicted, i really feel like i am capable of doing so so much better.

i have decided after much deliberation, that i will be retaking both OCR A Biology and OCR A Chemistry A-Level, i think i’m going to leave my other 2 subjects, as i achieved grade As in both of them. i am currently revising for my UCAT again for the second time as my exam is coming up soon. i do struggle with my mental health, so this whole period has been really isolating and exhausting. i have made the decision to not go back to school to retake my exams, since i don’t feel the most comfortable going back, and i also would prefer to sit my exams without anyone knowing, not even out of embarrassment, just want to keep certain stuff private you know? i know it’s literally 5x more expensive to sit the exams externally, but i am willing to pay for my comfort and peace of mind.

i know some unis that will accept my current grades, but i feel like i have a better chance of getting into medical school through resitting. i will try and apply at the unis that accept lower grades, since my offer would then be unconditional, and while this is most ideal, my self esteem is leaning more towards just taking my A-Levels again even if i get in with my current grades, so that i can prove to myself that i am A* worthy.

i’m also going to stay anonymous on here if that’s okay. just making this post so that we can build a community and work together to achieve what we knew we were capable of on the first sitting. it will be very hard and frustrating, but i know i can do it. if anyone could redirect me to a thread with current post-year 13s retaking exams please could i have the link :smile:

thank you for reading!

Reply 1

Monklithemonkey

10

heyy ! I am also resitting my alevels after missing the grades for dentistry this year. Don't be ashamed, I understand your grades were probably not as you expected but getting 2 As is still amazing !! I'm also feeling lost in this situation but ive honestly met so many people doing the same this year, so don't feel alone. You got this future doctor!! 🤗

Reply 2

resitdiaries

OP

11

Original post by Monklithemonkey

heyy ! I am also resitting my alevels after missing the grades for dentistry this year. Don't be ashamed, I understand your grades were probably not as you expected but getting 2 As is still amazing !! I'm also feeling lost in this situation but ive honestly met so many people doing the same this year, so don't feel alone. You got this future doctor!! 🤗

hi, your reply means so much honestly thank you❤️it just feels like everyone got what they wanted and no one’s going through the same, a lot of my friends move in on the day of my UCAT which will be a little painful, but i know there’s so many more of us, we’ve got this x

Reply 3

lrolddbdhd

2

Hey!! Can we make a group chat!? I’m resitting too and i’m losing motivation tooo easily 🙃

Reply 4

low-cost-tale

3

Original post by resitdiaries

hi,
i hope everyone’s well.
i was a medicine applicant for 2024 uni entry, but unfortunately received no interviews, no offers and missed my grades to reapply for the next cycle. it’s been very difficult to process this, i feel ashamed and angry at myself since grades were the one part of my application i felt most confident on, and after achieving all 8s and 9s at GCSE, and 3A*s 1A predicted, i really feel like i am capable of doing so so much better.
i have decided after much deliberation, that i will be retaking both OCR A Biology and OCR A Chemistry A-Level, i think i’m going to leave my other 2 subjects, as i achieved grade As in both of them. i am currently revising for my UCAT again for the second time as my exam is coming up soon. i do struggle with my mental health, so this whole period has been really isolating and exhausting. i have made the decision to not go back to school to retake my exams, since i don’t feel the most comfortable going back, and i also would prefer to sit my exams without anyone knowing, not even out of embarrassment, just want to keep certain stuff private you know? i know it’s literally 5x more expensive to sit the exams externally, but i am willing to pay for my comfort and peace of mind.
i know some unis that will accept my current grades, but i feel like i have a better chance of getting into medical school through resitting. i will try and apply at the unis that accept lower grades, since my offer would then be unconditional, and while this is most ideal, my self esteem is leaning more towards just taking my A-Levels again even if i get in with my current grades, so that i can prove to myself that i am A* worthy.
i’m also going to stay anonymous on here if that’s okay. just making this post so that we can build a community and work together to achieve what we knew we were capable of on the first sitting. it will be very hard and frustrating, but i know i can do it. if anyone could redirect me to a thread with current post-year 13s retaking exams please could i have the link :smile:

thank you for reading!

Omg I am literally going through the same stuff. Suddenly getting the news that my has been diagnosed with terminal illness so taking care of her and having the responsibility of the whole family. I am currently retaking a level bio (AQA) cause I've got so much on my place can't do two a levels at once or else I'll flop again.

Reply 5

low-cost-tale

3

Original post by lrolddbdhd

Hey!! Can we make a group chat!? I’m resitting too and i’m losing motivation tooo easily 🙃

Yes please if you have created a group chat please add me to it.

Reply 6

resitdiaries

OP

11

Original post by lrolddbdhd

Hey!! Can we make a group chat!? I’m resitting too and i’m losing motivation tooo easily 🙃

yes i’d love to make a gc! on what app?

Reply 7

resitdiaries

OP

11

Original post by low-cost-tale

Omg I am literally going through the same stuff. Suddenly getting the news that my has been diagnosed with terminal illness so taking care of her and having the responsibility of the whole family. I am currently retaking a level bio (AQA) cause I've got so much on my place can't do two a levels at once or else I'll flop again.

hey, i’m very sorry to hear this
i can’t even imagine how tough it’s been, you are so strong for even thinking of taking just one A-Level again, i think you’ve made the right decision, and i really hope it works out for you <3
i’m happy to talk whenever

Reply 8

resitdiaries

OP

11

guys if anyone would like to follow my resitting a levels diary i’ve started posting a thread each day, just look up ‘resit diaries #1’ for the first one :smile:

Reply 9

zoella A

10

guys i just wanna ask i am applying for medicine im resitting my a levels an got an E in biology due to personal issues however im doing it independently as my college doesn't do resits, so i wouldn't have any predicted grade how would this affect my application. I am applying to uni of sheffield they have no problem with resit i got A in psych and chem

Reply 10

resitdiaries

OP

11

Original post by zoella A

guys i just wanna ask i am applying for medicine im resitting my a levels an got an E in biology due to personal issues however im doing it independently as my college doesn't do resits, so i wouldn't have any predicted grade how would this affect my application. I am applying to uni of sheffield they have no problem with resit i got A in psych and chem

hey! sorry to hear about your personal issues, i’d try contacting your school for at least a predicted grade x
if they don’t respond by friday apply to universities that don’t look at predicted grades at all, for example kent medical school

Reply 11

cherries23

4

Original post by resitdiaries

hi,
i hope everyone’s well.
i was a medicine applicant for 2024 uni entry, but unfortunately received no interviews, no offers and missed my grades to reapply for the next cycle. it’s been very difficult to process this, i feel ashamed and angry at myself since grades were the one part of my application i felt most confident on, and after achieving all 8s and 9s at GCSE, and 3A*s 1A predicted, i really feel like i am capable of doing so so much better.
i have decided after much deliberation, that i will be retaking both OCR A Biology and OCR A Chemistry A-Level, i think i’m going to leave my other 2 subjects, as i achieved grade As in both of them. i am currently revising for my UCAT again for the second time as my exam is coming up soon. i do struggle with my mental health, so this whole period has been really isolating and exhausting. i have made the decision to not go back to school to retake my exams, since i don’t feel the most comfortable going back, and i also would prefer to sit my exams without anyone knowing, not even out of embarrassment, just want to keep certain stuff private you know? i know it’s literally 5x more expensive to sit the exams externally, but i am willing to pay for my comfort and peace of mind.
i know some unis that will accept my current grades, but i feel like i have a better chance of getting into medical school through resitting. i will try and apply at the unis that accept lower grades, since my offer would then be unconditional, and while this is most ideal, my self esteem is leaning more towards just taking my A-Levels again even if i get in with my current grades, so that i can prove to myself that i am A* worthy.
i’m also going to stay anonymous on here if that’s okay. just making this post so that we can build a community and work together to achieve what we knew we were capable of on the first sitting. it will be very hard and frustrating, but i know i can do it. if anyone could redirect me to a thread with current post-year 13s retaking exams please could i have the link :smile:

thank you for reading!

hi!!! I have also decided to retake my alevels 🙂 i would actually be considered as a mature student since I'm 19 (I took a gap year and now I'm doing my a levels) i am not going back to school but i managed to get a place to retake the actual exams at my previous school! im hoping to take another year out to go travelling then uni the year after for radiology!