I Failed Maths GCSE (3 Times): What Now?

Failing your GCSEs can be a disappointing and stressful experience – especially when it comes to maths. And especially if you’ve failed your Maths GCSE twice or even 3 times.

But don’t worry! You won’t be the first (or last!) student to fail your GCSE in Maths. And life will go on.

In fact, around 175,000 young people fail the subject every year, according to The Standard.

Here, we’ll explore your options and help you understand the best route forwards.

What happens if you fail Maths GCSE?

If you fail your Maths GCSE, you’ll normally have to retake it.

Why? Well, in the UK, there are two subjects that the government wants to make sure you pass – English and Maths.

With that in mind, if you get less than a grade 4 in either of these subjects, you’ll have to retake your GCSE (or get an equivalent qualification).

Maths GCSE resits take place twice a year – once in the autumn (usually November) and once in the summer at the usual exam time.

Retaking your Maths GCSE as soon as possible will give you the best chance of passing next time around, as everything you’ve learned will still be fresh in your mind.

Instead of leaving things to chance, you can also increase your likelihood of passing by getting the help of an experienced Maths GCSE tutor.

Our handpicked tutors will be able to tailor sessions to your strengths, weaknesses and learning style to help you wrap your head around tricky topics and make sure you’re fully prepared for your resit.

“My advice regarding English and maths resits is to book them as soon as possible and seek appropriate tutor support to fill the gaps where necessary.

“A lot of the English or maths you have learned will still be fresh in your mind so the sooner they are resat – the better!”

– Matthew B, GCSE English tutor

What if you failed Maths GCSE 3 times?

It can be demoralising if you’ve failed your Maths GCSE twice, 3 times or even more.

But there’s no easy way out. Instead, you’ll need to carry on studying and retaking Maths until you pass or turn 18.

This can be especially challenging as you’ll be retaking your Maths GCSE with Year 11s, who will all be focused on their GCSE year. Meanwhile, you’ll be concentrating on your post-16 studies and may only be studying for your Maths GCSE an hour or two a week.

Here are some tips and ideas to help you break this vicious cycle.

Target areas of weakness

Preparation is key if you want to pass your Maths GCSE resit. But that doesn’t necessarily mean giving exactly the same amount of attention to everything on the syllabus.

Instead, look back at your practice papers and past performance and identify key areas of weakness that are holding you back from that all-important grade 4.

As an example, maybe you’re doing okay in algebra but trigonometry is losing you marks.

Or perhaps probability is a walk in the park while you’ve always struggled to get your head around fractions.

Picking out those areas for improvement will mean you can carry out much more targeted preparation – giving you the best chance of passing next time around.

Get help from an expert

If you’ve moved onto other post-16 studies, it can be tricky to get the support and attention you need to help you pass your Maths GCSE.

An experienced Maths GCSE tutor will provide the perfect solution.

Our handpicked tutors are experts in their subject – many are even qualified teachers and examiners, giving them an inside edge on what your exam board will be looking for.

They’ll be able to work with you one-on-one to identify areas for improvement, and put a tailored plan in place to help you get to where you need to be.

Tutoring isn’t like school. Instead, you’ll be able to learn online, from the comfort of your own home. And the right tutor will act as your own personal mentor and cheerleader, tailoring sessions to your learning style and boosting your confidence to help you reach your full potential.

Explore alternatives

If you’ve failed GCSE Maths 3 times or more, you might be tired of those constant resits.

In this case, it could be worth checking whether you’re eligible to take a functional skills qualification instead.

Essentially, Functional Skills Level 2 is an equivalent qualification that can be taken online and is offered by exam boards on demand.

You’ll generally only be eligible to take this instead of your Maths GCSE if you got a grade 2 or below, or you won’t be studying full-time next year.

It’s not necessarily any easier than GCSE Maths. But it is generally better suited to students who’ve failed their Maths GCSE.

Why? Well, GCSEs are more focused on the academic side of maths – meaning exam questions are often not put into context.

On the other hand, a functional skills qualification in Maths focuses more on the practical skills that you’ll need in everyday life and work. In this way, it applies the maths you learn to real-life situations.

What happens if you never pass Maths in GCSE?

Most colleges and employers will want to see that you have at least a grade 4 in Maths.

So, if you never pass Maths in GCSE, you’ll certainly be limiting your future job opportunities.

That said, you can retake your Maths GCSE as many times as you like – even as an adult.

Plus, some employers and universities will be happy to accept functional skills qualifications instead.

Even if you’re not eligible to take these instead of resitting your Maths GCSE immediately, there’s nothing to stop you from turning to these alternative qualifications once you hit the age of 18.

Can you get into university if you fail Maths?

Most universities and courses will require you to get at least a grade 4 in GCSE Maths. But they won’t usually look at whether you achieved this first time around or not.

In other words, it doesn’t really matter if you fail your Maths GCSE and have to retake it – as long as you get that grade 4 under your belt eventually.

On the other hand, if you never pass your Maths GCSE, things can be a bit trickier (but not impossible!).

Some universities will be happy to accept a functional skills qualification in maths instead. Just bear in mind that there are fewer that will. So, it will limit your choice of universities and courses significantly.

Get the help of a Maths tutor

Whether you’ve failed your Maths GCSE once, twice or 3 times, a tutor can help.

Planning to retake your Maths GCSE again? A Maths GCSE tutor will be able to create a tailored plan that takes into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style to make sure you’re better prepared for your next resit.

Decided to end the cycle of resits? A Functional Skills Level 2 tutor can help to make sure you have the skills you need to get an equivalent qualification under your belt.

Whatever route you decide to take, the right support and one-to-one attention from a dedicated professional can go a long way – boosting your maths skills and your confidence at the same time. You got this!

FAQs

What percentage of people fail GCSE maths?

In Summer 2023, 31.8% of students failed to obtain at least a grade 4 in their Maths GCSE (according to Statista).

What happens if you fail Maths in GCSE?

If you fail your Maths GCSE, you’ll need to retake it or obtain an equivalent qualification.

Is a 3 a fail in Maths?

Yes, 3 is seen as a fail in Maths GCSE. To pass, you’ll need a grade 4 or above.

How much does it cost to resit GCSE Maths?

It’s normally free to resit your Maths GCSE if you resit it at the same college or school within a year of your first attempt.

However, you might need to pay if you resit it later on as a private candidate. Similarly, if you passed your Maths GCSE but you want to retake it to get a better grade, your school may ask you to pay.

In this case, you could be looking at anywhere from £30 to £100+.