Do I need to retake a GCSE exam if I fail?

To move onto higher education, or for certain career paths, you will need to have acquired a grade 4 (previously a C) in your GCSE exams. Failing to do so may hold you back from bettering your opportunities in the future, such moving onto apprenticeship or university courses, or bettering your job prospects. 

You may even want to retake your GCSE exam to get a higher grade. Either way, see retaking your exam as an opportunity to better your skillset and future chances of success.

Which GCSE Exams can I retake?

You can usually retake any GCSE exam that you want. However, the most common exams to retake are GCSE Maths and GCSE English, as a grade 4 in both maths and English is expected of students by the government. Many people resit science GCSE exams too, as lots of jobs require you to have achieved a grade 4 in your GCSE Science. 

Are GCSE retakes for 16 year olds only?

Anyone can retake a GCSE at any age, whether you are 16 years old, or are an adult returning to education. If you are returning to education, we recommend purchasing a course to get a full understanding of the material that may be included in the exam. Pass My GCSE offers high quality, online courses to help you revise for your GCSE retake for adults, or younger students. 

How many times can I resit a GCSE?

You can retake your GCSEs as many times as you need to until you pass, there is no limit. However, if you are struggling to pass your GCSE exams, then it may be worth taking another recognised qualification such as a functional skills or GCSE equivalency. If you want to resit maths and English GCSE exams, you can take these in November or May of each year. For your resit science GCSE exams and other subjects, there are only done in the summer. 

Can I resit a GCSE online?

If you are looking for resit GCSE online exams, then your best bet would be a functional skills level 2 or a GCSE equivalency qualification, which are both equivalent to a full GCSE qualification and available through Pass My GCSE and MME Exams. Unfortunately traditional GCSEs cannot be sat online.

What is a pass at GCSE?

Ofqual, the exam regulator, outline that a 4 is a pass and a 5 is a “good pass” or “strong pass”. You will need a grade 4 in both maths and English to progress onto most apprenticeships, university courses, and for most employers here in the UK. However, you can achieve this by a GCSE equivalent qualification such as a Functional Skills level 2 or a GCSE equivalency.

How do I prepare for a GCSE resit?

If you are preparing for a GCSE English resit, maths resit, science or biology resit, then the Pass My GCSE online courses will provide you with everything you need to prepare for your exams.

What happens if my resit grade is worse than the original?

If you achieve a lower grade in your resit exam, then do not worry! You will not lose your higher grade, and instead you can choose to use the higher grade you achieved.