If you’re thinking about retaking your A Levels, your decision probably hinges on one key piece of information: how much does it cost to resit A Levels?
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here, we’ll break down the typical costs you’ll face – from course fees to exam fees.
How much does it cost to retake A Levels?
Exactly how much it costs to retake your A Levels will depend on lots of different factors. These can include…
- Your sixth form or college
- How old you are
- Whether you decide to retake as a private candidate
- Your exam centre
However, you’ll typically have two main costs to bear in mind: tuition fees and exam fees.
Tuition fees
When it comes to retaking your A Levels, you’ll typically have three routes to choose from:
- Return to study at your original school or college
- Study at an alternative college
- Retake your A Levels as a private candidate
If you’re under 19, your sixth form or college may agree to let you retake your whole year for free.
However, there’s no guarantee and often, you’ll need to pay tuition fees to retake your A Levels at a school or college.
These can vary massively depending on where you choose to study – from a few hundred pounds to over £1,500 per subject.
As you can imagine, this can add up quickly – especially if you need to retake several subjects!
The alternative is to take an online course which will often cost less. Or, you could choose to retake your A Levels as a private candidate and avoid course fees entirely.
However, we wouldn’t recommend going it completely alone.
Instead, why not get the help of an A Level tutor who can level up your knowledge and improve your exam technique in just an hour or two a week?
They’ll keep you on track, hold you accountable, and help you wrap your head around any difficult concepts to ensure you reach your full potential in your retakes.
A Level tutor prices can vary depending on the subject and your tutor’s level of experience. However, you’re looking at an average rate of £41.88 per hour.
Exam fees
As well as tuition fees, you’ll also have to factor in exam fees, which are paid directly to your chosen exam centre.
Some courses and colleges will include your exam fee in the cost of your course fees. But this can vary depending on the setup, so make sure to check.
If you need to pay your own exam fees, you’ll be looking at anywhere between £65 and £400+ per subject.
Usually, you’ll also have to pay an admin fee on top of this, for the pleasure of booking your exams.
This is likely to be in the range of £20 to £100+ per subject.
Just bear in mind that each exam centre will set their own prices, which can also vary depending on your exam board, location and subject.
So, if you’re planning to resit your A Levels as a private candidate, it’s always worth ringing around several exam centres in your area to make sure you’re getting the best price possible.
What is the cheapest way to retake A levels?
The cheapest way to retake A Levels will depend on your unique circumstances.
If you’re lucky, your school or college may let you resit the year for free – but you’ll usually need to be below the age of 19.
Alternatively, you could save on course fees altogether by resitting your A Levels as a private candidate.
Just bear in mind that the last thing you want to do is pay for a resit without investing in the support you need to improve on your grades.
So, it’s important to choose the right route for you – not just the cheapest.
With that in mind, whatever route you choose, we’d always recommend getting tailored help and support from a private A Level tutor.
They’ll be able to give you the one-on-one attention and tailored learning plans you need to help you reach your full potential – even if you only have the budget for a few sessions.
Is it worth the cost to resit A Levels?
So, is it worth the cost to resit A Levels? Well, it all depends on your goals and what you hope to achieve.
If you’ve already got the grades you need to get into your first-choice uni, it may not be worth it.
After all, it’s not just the cost of resitting your exams you’ll have to worry about – you’ll also need to wait until the next exam season before resitting your A Levels, which could be frustrating if you need to put other plans on hold.
That said, if you’ve failed your A Levels or missed the grades you need to take the next step in your education or career then yes, it can absolutely be worth the cost.
In this case, resitting your A Levels could open up doors that were previously closed, and help you reach your long-term goals – as long as you manage to improve on your grades.
Ultimately, resitting your A Levels will only be worth it if you put in a lot of hard work and invest in the right support to ensure you can reach your full potential this time around.
Find a tutor to help you resit your A Levels
There’s no point in resitting your A Levels if you don’t improve on your grades. So, investing in the right support is crucial.
Our handpicked A Level tutors are experts at bringing every subject to life. They’ll give you the one-on-one attention you won’t get elsewhere and tailor their teaching to your strengths, weaknesses and learning style.
In this way, they’ll help you reach your full potential so you can achieve your goals and take the next step in your education or career.
Simply browse our A Level tutors to get started, or sign up to receive £25 credit towards your first lesson.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
How much does an A Level exam cost?
It typically costs between £65 and £400+ per subject to resit your A Levels as a private candidate. Plus, you’ll often have to pay an admin fee on top – usually somewhere between £20 and £100+ per subject.
Do universities accept resit A levels?
Yes, most universities will accept resits – even the top Russell Group institutions.
Some universities will even be happy to keep your offer open for the following year if you need to resit your A Levels. However, if not, you’ll need to apply again from scratch.
Can I resit my A Levels for free?
Yes, your current college or sixth form may let you resit your A Levels for free if you’re under 19 and want to retake your A Levels the year after you got your results. Ask them to find out whether they’d be able to cover your course or exam fees – or both.
What are the most failed A Levels?
Technically, an E grade or above is a pass at A Level – which means only 2.8% of students failed their A Levels in 2024.
That said, here are the subjects with the lowest number of C grades and over in 2024 (according to Schools Week):
- Computing: 67% of students achieved a grade C or above
- Physics: 69% of students achieved a grade C or above
- Biology: 69% of students achieved a grade C or above
Is it worth resitting A Levels?
That depends on your goals. If you’ve missed out on the grades you need to take the next step in your studies or career, resitting your A Levels could be well worth it. However, it’s important to invest in the right support to ensure you’re able to better your grades this time around.
