Retaking A-levels

From Exam Results magazine. Issue 2001/2

Published: 31 January 2002

For most students it is a tough decision to commit to retaking A-levels. First and foremost retake students should recognise that they are not failures and most go on to enjoy far more success than if they had settled for a degree course through Clearing

Nevertheless in most cases, resit students will need to get higher A-level results than their first-time counterparts and so it is essential that they get it right the second time round.

Ideally, tutorial colleges (or independent sixth-form colleges as many are now called) are the best place for students to embark on resit courses. These colleges have a tradition of obtaining excellent improvements in grade for resits, and a reputation for getting students on to degree courses of their first choice. They combine a rigorous programme of intensive, exam-oriented tuition in small groups, with accessibility to tutors outside classes, even in the evenings and at weekends.

Resit courses may be taken over one term, two terms or a year. But this year, as the "old" A-levels are being phased out, students will only be able to resit these exams in January 2002. After that, only the new AS and A2 modular exams will be available to all A-level candidates.

So, how do you go about choosing the college that's right for you? To start off with, you need to obtain prospectuses from colleges that offer the course you require. A good source of colleges is your local Yellow Pages (under "independent schools and colleges") or an independent education consultant such as Gabbitas*.

Some points to consider when choosing a college:

make sure you visit the college and meet the tutors
ask to see previous A-level results
find out how many hours of class tuition each subject is given
find out if the college opens in the evenings or at weekends
find out if resit students are taught separately from first-timers

Remember that resit courses are quite demanding because of their intensive nature, and you must be committed to putting in the long hours that these courses require. No pain no gain, as the old saying goes!

The rewards are well worth the investment in time and energy though, as many resit students are able to secure themselves a places at one of the top UK universities.