When A Level results don’t go as planned, it can feel like the end of the world—for both students and their parents. But take a deep breath: resitting A Levels is not only possible, but often a smart and practical step forward. Whether your child narrowly missed a university offer or simply wants to improve their grades, there are flexible, supportive options available.

Is It Possible to Resit A Levels?

Yes, absolutely. Students can resit one, some, or all of their A Levels. There is no limit to how many times a student can retake, although most resits happen the following academic year.

Resitting is common for students who:

• Want to achieve higher grades for university or career prospects
• Didn’t get the results they expected due to personal challenges, illness, or exam nerves
• Are changing career direction and need different subjects or grades
• How Do A Level Resits Work?

  A Level resits usually involve re-entering the final exam(s) for the subject(s) your child wants to improve. Coursework and practicals are generally not re-assessed unless they form part of the final grade in a subject like Art or Science.

  There are three main pathways for resitting:

  1. Resit at School or College

  Some sixth forms or colleges allow students to return and resit exams alongside Year 13 students, though not all institutions offer this.

  2. Study at a Tutorial College

  These independent colleges specialise in resit preparation. They offer small class sizes, intensive teaching, and tailored revision plans, ideal for students who need more structured support.

  3. Self-Study and Private Entry

  For highly motivated students, self-studying and registering as a private candidate at an exam centre can be a cost-effective option. However, it requires discipline and planning, especially without classroom support.

  When Are A Level Resits?

  A Level exams are held once a year in May/June, so any resit preparation will be working toward the next summer exam window.

  UCAS deadlines and university entry timelines should be considered. Some students take a full gap year to resit and reapply, while others might explore other routes such as clearing, foundation courses, or apprenticeships.

  Does Resitting Affect University Applications?

  No university will automatically reject an applicant just because they’ve resat exams. Many accept resit students, especially if there’s a valid reason behind the original result. A thoughtful personal statement and strong reference can help explain the context.That said, some competitive courses (e.g. Medicine, Law) may have stricter views on resits. It’s important to check university policies individually.

  Supporting Your Child Through a Resit Year

  Resitting A Levels can be emotionally challenging. Your child may be dealing with disappointment, stress, or anxiety about falling behind peers. Here’s how you can help:

  • Be supportive, not critical – Focus on the courage it takes to try again
  • Help them set realistic goals – What grades do they need, and how will they get there?
  • Ensure they get the right learning environment – Whether it’s tutoring, structured classes, or quiet study space
  • Talk about future plans – Frame this year as a stepping stone, not a setback

  Resitting A Levels is not a failure; it’s a second chance, a fresh start, and an opportunity for growth. With the right guidance, mindset, and resources, your child can still achieve their goals and move forward with confidence.

  Remember: academic paths are rarely straight lines. Sometimes the scenic route is the one that leads to the most rewarding destination.

Life doesn’t often give you a pause button; work, family, errands, and everything in between seem to expand to fill every available moment, and it’s non-stop. So when you decide to take on something new, like learning a skill or enrolling in a course, it can feel impossible to work out where the time will come from. But it can be done, and the good news is that you don’t need to change every little aspect of your life to make it happen either; you should be able to fit it in, even if you don’t think it’s possible. Keep reading to find out more.

Start Small 

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to learn something new is overcommitting, but the truth is that you don’t need three-hour study sessions or whole weekends dedicated to revision. Actually, it’s often best if you focus on small, consistent steps because they’ll add up faster than you think. Even fifteen or twenty minutes a day is enough to make real progress over time.

It’s also less daunting. When your goal is to sit down for a short session, you’re far more likely to do it than if you’ve set yourself something huge, and once it becomes part of your daily routine, it feels much less like a chore and more like a habit, which is exactly what you want. 

Work It Into Your Existing Routine 

If you wait for free time to magically appear, you’ll probably be waiting forever, so instead, look at the time you already have. Could you review notes while commuting? Watch a video lesson on your lunch break? Do a short practice exercise before bed? The trick is to weave learning into your life, not add it as a separate, overwhelming task, and in that way, you’ll hardly notice you’re doing anything extra.

Choose Flexible Options 

Traditional learning methods don’t always work for busy schedules, and if you’re juggling a lot, look for options that adapt to you. For example, an online functional skills maths level 2 course gives you the freedom to study at your own pace, whenever it fits, and you can break lessons into smaller chunks, rewatch content, and build your understanding gradually, all without the stress of a fixed timetable.

Ask For Support

If you live with others or share responsibilities, talk to them about what you’re working on. Even small changes, like someone helping with dinner or watching the kids for an hour, can create valuable study time, and when the people around you know why it matters, they’re often more willing to help.

Keep Perspective 

It’s easy to feel guilty when life gets in the way, but learning doesn’t need to be perfect to be worthwhile, and some days you’ll do more, some days less, and that’s okay. What matters is consistency and remembering why you started in the first place.

Final Thoughts

If you want to find time for learning, you don’t have to try to squeeze more time into your day, you just have to be more careful with the time you’ve got available, no matter how little that might be.

Moving to a new country for university can be a mixed bag of emotions; curiosity, excitement and a sense of liberation paired with nerves, overwhelm and even a little imposter syndrome. New people, new food, maybe even a new language – each of these aspects can be equal parts enthralling and daunting for young students taking their first steps into adulthood in a new setting.

Making friends and feeling at home as an international student takes time, a bit of effort, and a lot of self-care and self-kindness. As the saying goes, “patience is a virtue”…but there are ways to make the process a little easier.

Whether you’re heading to a student apartment in London, Lisbon or Loughborough, these 10 tips – presented by a team of student housing experts – will help you build real, meaningful connections with others, find your rhythm, and feel more at home – wherever you are.

1. Make your space yours

Your room is so much more than four walls and a bed; it’s your little corner of calm in a whirlwind of change. Decorate your space with photos, familiar trinkets, and comfort items like your favourite fragrance, blanket or mug that reminds you of home. The smallest detail can make a space feel safe, familiar, and ultimately yours.

2. Cook what you miss (and share it)

Food is a powerful emotional tool that involves all the senses, and the smell and taste of your favourite meal from home can help keep homesickness at bay, while easing away the unfamiliarity of a new country. International supermarkets are great for finding the right ingredients to help you recreate something you love, and you can often find other treats and comfort foods from home that will help you feel more settled.

There’s also something to be said for the shared experience of food. Cooking your national dish for your new housemates or friends can be a wonderful way to build cultural bridges, forge friendships and share comforting stories of home.

3. Find your daily rhythm

Having some kind of routine – even a loose one – can help you feel more stable. Setting a regular time to wake up, picking a cosy café to study in, or taking a walk at the same time each day gives shape, purpose and familiarity to your week.

If you’re still getting used to the local language, apps like Duolingo can help you squeeze in practice for speaking with locals, while weekly check-ins with family and friends back home helps you stay connected.

4. Use the support that’s there

Most universities offer a lot more support for international students than people realise. Academic mentors, mental health services, student societies – these are all great resources to take advantage of. It’s important to take action early in these areas – don’t wait until you’re struggling to reach out.

Beyond the official stuff, try to find your people. It might just be one or two close friends or flatmates, but having a couple of familiar faces to spend time with can make all the difference.

5. Get out and explore

Staying on campus all day might seem tempting, but it’s best to avoid this habit. The more you see of your new city, the more connected you’ll feel to it. Wander through markets, try the street food, get lost in bookshops or sign up for a local event, even if you go by yourself.

Talks, gallery openings, book signings – community events like these are great ways to meet like-minded people. Shared interests often lead to shared experiences, which can be perfect for sparking conversation and building new friendships.

6. Mind your mental health

Homesickness is a very normal part of studying abroad, and it’s true that some days, it’ll hit you harder than others. That’s normal. Take time to be kind to yourself; Try journalling, mindfulness apps, or even just a quiet walk to clear your head. Don’t forget the importance of good sleep and rest for your general mood.

If things start to feel too much, don’t stay quiet. Talk to someone. Your university likely offers free counselling, and using this is a sign of strength, not struggle.

7. Volunteer Your Time

Helping out in the community isn’t just good karma, it’s also a great way to meet people and feel like part of something bigger in your local area. Look for volunteering schemes through your uni or local charities. Food banks, beach clean-ups, fundraising events – pick something that speaks to your values, and you’re more likely to meet like-minded people.

Many universities also have buddy or peer support programmes to connect you with students who have been in your shoes, and know what it’s like to be new somewhere.

8. Let tech work for you

Tech can keep you close to home and help you branch out. Use video calls, shared calendars, or just the occasional meme drop in a family or friends group chat to stay connected with home.

If you’re keen to connect with new people, apps like Meetup are great for finding groups of people with shared interests. Bumble BFF is a good option if you’re looking for mates rather than dates, and even Eventbrite can be great for discovering everything from yoga sessions to language exchanges.

9. Say yes, even when it’s awkward

You don’t need to be wildly outgoing to make friends, but you do need to be open to it. When someone invites you for coffee, an event, or even a casual hangout – go! You can always leave early if it’s not your vibe, but half the battle is just showing up, and you may find you’re glad you did.

Most meaningful connections happen in the small, unplanned moments. Give yourself a chance to stumble into them.

10. Don’t rush

At the start of this article, we said that “patience is a virtue” – and this feels like a good note to end on as well. Truthfully, there’s no time limit for how long it will take to feel ‘settled’ in your new area. Some people adjust faster than others, and that’s okay – it’s not a race to the finish line. Be kind to yourself, and take things at your own pace.

Notice the little, everyday wins: your first real chat in a second language, your first successful supermarket shop, the day the bartender remembers your name. These tiny moments mean you’re already finding your feet and making a new home.

Enjoy Your New Home 

Being an international student can be a wonderful experience, and an opportunity to weave your culture, identity, and experiences into a new environment, while letting it grow inside you as well.

Friendships, familiarity, confidence – these things will come, and one day, without even realising it, you’ll wake up and think “this feels like home”.