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Resits & Retakes for A-Levels and GCSE
Get a tutor to help you with your resit to ensure you get the score you want
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Should you retake, and what are you retaking?
Most students arrive with the same three questions. The answers depend on how far off the grade you were, what the university needs, and how much time is left before the next series. A Learning Advisor will go through your result with you before anything is booked.
Resit one paper
You were close on the overall grade and one paper pulled the total down. The work is narrow and technique-led, and often a term of focused tutoring is enough.
- Best when you missed by a few marks
- Check whether your board allows a single-unit resit
- Core and extended tiers in several subjects
Retake the full subject
You were more than a grade off, or the gaps run across the whole course. All papers are sat again in the same series, and the plan runs over two or three terms.
- Best when the shortfall is content, not technique
- Your previous coursework may carry forward
- A*–G or 9–1, depending on your board
Appeal or remark first
If you were within a mark or two of the boundary, a review of marking may be quicker and cheaper than a resit. Deadlines are short, so this is decided in the days after results.
- Request the paper breakdown from your centre
- Appeals run through the centre, not the student
- [Confirm current JCQ deadlines before publishing]
Students entered for Core who are aiming at A-Level often need to move up a tier. Tell us at enquiry and we will build the plan around closing that gap.
The retake calendar
Resits are sat in fixed series, and entry deadlines close months before the paper. The sooner the plan is set, the more of the timetable you get to use.
Results and decisions
Results arrive and review-of-marking deadlines are short. Decide whether to request a remark, resit a paper or retake the subject. Cambridge November entries close in mid-August.
Plan and start
Your Learning Advisor reviews your result and matches a retake tutor. The first sessions are diagnostic, built around the paper you sat.
Autumn series
Cambridge and Edexcel International run October/November exams; UK boards have no November A-Level series.
January series and UK entries
Edexcel International and OxfordAQA run January exams. Entries for the UK boards' June series close in late February.
Main series
All boards examine in May/June. UK A-Level papers run from early May to mid-June, with results in mid-August.
How retake tutoring is different
You already know most of the content, so teaching it again in the same order wastes the time you have. We start with the paper you sat, find where the marks went, and spend the year there.
Gap analysis, not a fresh start
The first sessions are diagnostic: your paper breakdown and a set of past questions, to separate what you did not know from what you could not deliver under timing.
Built for students studying alone
Most retake students no longer have a class or a deadline. The tutor supplies that structure: work set and marked weekly, on a schedule that fits work or a gap year.
Fixing what went wrong on the day
For many students the content was never the problem. Timing, question choice and nerves are trained by sitting full papers to the official mark scheme until the pattern changes.
Sitting the exam as a private candidate
If you have left school, you enter the exam yourself through an approved centre rather than through a sixth form. It is straightforward, but the practical details catch people out, particularly in subjects with coursework or a practical endorsement.
What you need to arrange
Find an approved exam centre that accepts private candidates, and register before its entry deadline, which usually closes months before the exam. Check that the centre offers your exact exam board and specification, and confirm its fees, as each centre sets its own.
- A centre that ogfers your board and specification
- Your entry submitted before the centre's deadline
- Arrangements for any coursework or practical endorsement
Watch out for
Not every centre accepts private candidates for every subject. Coursework and practical endorsements catch out the most students, because a centre has to supervise and authenticate them. In some subjects you may be able to carry forward an earlier coursework mark or practical endorsement, so check with your exam board before you enter.
- Centres that don't take private candidates for your subject
- Coursework or practicals that need supervising
- Specification changes since you last sat the exam
How It Works
We keep things as simple as possible. Our objective is to make
finding a tutor convenient, efficient and effective.
Fill out an online form
Complete an application online which will be received by one of our dedicatedLearning Advisors
Get matched with a tutor
Our experienced Learning Advisor will review your application, and match youwith the most appropriate tutor based on your application
Tutor makes contact
Once we confirm with the tutor, the tutor will make contact to organise yourfirst session.
Have your first lesson
Our tutors will work around your schedule to organise a session whenever youwould like. Only pay for tutoring you have completed.
Choose between top performing students or qualified teachers
Either way, we use our bespoke matching process to find you a tutor based on your preferences, exam board and location.
Academic Tutors
from $60 USD/hr
Top performing graduates who achieved A*/A grades in the subject they teach.
- We accept only the top 5% of tutor applicants.
- Each tutor is chosen for their academic results, teaching ability, and connection with students.
Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer
Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors
First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked
Professional Tutors
from $85 USD/hr
Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.
- We only select highly experienced, qualified A-Level teachers.
- Every teacher is assessed on their teaching expertise, subject knowledge, and ability to engage students.
Quality assurance: trained and accredited teaching qualifications
Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed
Subject expertise: deep understanding of content and exam board requirements
Due to our international operations we quote our prices in USD. Pound amounts are an indicative conversion and you will be invoiced in USD.
Academic Tutors
from £47 GBP/hr
Top performing graduates who achieved A*/A grades in the subject they teach.
Relatable role model: work with a tutor who is similar in age and can be a peer
Affordability: academic tutors are more cost-effective than professional tutors
First-hand experience: they sat these papers recently and know what worked
Professional Tutors
from £67 GBP/hr
Current or past qualified teachers and examiners with 5+ years professional teaching experience.
Quality assurance: trained and accredited teaching qualifications
Guaranteed track record: years of experience helping students succeed
Subject expertise: deep understanding of content and exam board requirements
Meet our retake tutors
Our team is a combination of recent graduates who sat these exams themselves and qualified teachers with years of classroom and examining experience.

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Anuraj S is an experienced Physics tutor with over 7 years of teaching experience, specialising in GCSE and international secondary-school Physics. He has taught students across major exam boards including Pearson Edexcel, Edexcel International (IAL), AQA, OCR, and Cambridge International (CIE), helping students build strong conceptual understanding and achieve their academic goals.
He holds a Ph.D. in Plasma Physics, an Integrated M.Sc. in Physics from the Central University of Rajasthan, and a Bachelor of Education (Gold Medallist, 91%). His strong academic background allows him to explain challenging Physics concepts clearly and connect theory with practical, real-world applications.
Anuraj has extensive experience preparing GCSE students for both content and exam technique. He focuses on understanding the specification, command words, mark schemes, required practicals, mathematical skills, and exam-style questions. His lessons include systematic revision, past-paper practice, identifying common mistakes, and developing the structured approach needed to gain marks consistently.
His teaching style is patient, approachable, and highly adaptable. He first makes sure students genuinely understand the underlying concept before progressing to more challenging questions. Whether a student is struggling with the fundamentals or aiming for the highest grades, he tailors lessons to their individual needs and helps them become confident, independent Physics problem-solvers.

10
With over two decades of international teaching experience across six countries, M.Sc.-qualified educator Jalaj C specializes in helping students achieve top marks in advanced mathematics by combining deep conceptual understanding with strategic exam preparation. As an A level Examiner, and a seasoned teacher, he provides invaluable insider knowledge of assessment criteria and grading rubrics. He replaces rote memorization with real-world mathematical modeling and calculus mastery, while leveraging his status as a certified Texas Instruments T3 Instructor to build complete student confidence in using TI-Nspire and TI-84 technology. Multilingual in English, Hindi, Indonesian, and Rajasthani, he creates an inclusive, tailored learning environment that transforms complex academic challenges into strengths.

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Karim T is an accomplished English Language and Literature educator, English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist, and communication professional with a distinguished academic record and extensive experience in international secondary education. His professional expertise is particularly focused on IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level English Language and English as a Second Language, with a strong commitment to developing students’ linguistic accuracy, communication skills, academic writing, critical thinking, and confidence in using English effectively.
Karim earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Translation with a Minor in Communication from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), graduating Summa Cum Laude as the Valedictorian of his graduating class with a GPA of 3.72 (Excellent with Honors).
His academic excellence was established at an early stage. He graduated from Nefertari British International School under the IGCSE system with an outstanding 9 A*s, a result officially recognized by Egypt’s Central Coordination Office as equivalent to 100%, and graduated as the Valedictorian of his high school class. This achievement made Karim a two-time Valedictorian, having graduated first in both high school and university.
Professionally, Karim has developed substantial experience teaching English Language, English as a Second Language, and English Language & Literature within international secondary-school settings. His teaching experience encompasses students preparing for IGCSE and O-Level examinations, as well as advanced A-Level English Language study. He has worked extensively on developing students’ reading comprehension, writing proficiency, vocabulary, grammar, spoken communication, analytical skills, and ability to communicate effectively for both academic and real-world purposes.
Karim’s approach to IGCSE and O-Level English emphasizes building a secure foundation in language while developing the examination skills required for success. He supports students in mastering comprehension, directed writing, descriptive and narrative writing, summary skills, vocabulary, grammar, sentence construction, and effective written expression. Particular emphasis is placed on helping students understand how language choices influence meaning, tone, purpose, audience, and overall effectiveness.
At A-Level, Karim adopts a more sophisticated and analytical approach to English Language, guiding students toward advanced language analysis, discursive and argumentative writing, linguistic terminology, textual interpretation, and the ability to construct precise, coherent, and well-supported academic responses. He encourages students to move beyond simply identifying language features and instead develop the ability to explain how and why language choices create particular effects and meanings.
His experience also includes teaching within the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, where he taught English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge. This background has further strengthened his ability to cultivate higher-order thinking, academic writing, independent inquiry, and sophisticated communication skills. He has successfully guided graduating Diploma Programme cohorts through demanding academic requirements while maintaining a broader focus on intellectual development and university readiness.
As an English as a Second Language educator, Karim places particular importance on helping learners become confident, accurate, and independent users of English. His instruction combines explicit language development with meaningful communication, enabling students to strengthen their grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while developing the confidence to use English in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.
Committed to continuous professional development, Karim has completed official International Baccalaureate Category 2 professional development workshops in Theory of Knowledge and English B, complementing his broader expertise in international English-language education.
Beyond teaching, Karim’s multidisciplinary background includes research and development, public speaking, strategic communication, and educational innovation. His academic training in translation and communication has given him a particularly strong understanding of language, audience, register, purpose, and effective communication—skills that directly inform his approach to English Language and ESL instruction.
Karim is driven by the belief that effective English education extends beyond examination preparation. His goal is to equip students with the language proficiency, analytical ability, academic confidence, and communication skills necessary to succeed in IGCSE, O-Level, and A-Level examinations while preparing them for higher education and an increasingly interconnected global environment.

24
I am an experienced Economics and Business educator with 9 years of teaching experience, supporting students across A-Level and GCSE Economics and Business Studies. I have extensive experience teaching Cambridge IGCSE and IB curricula, with a strong focus on developing the analytical, evaluative, and exam-writing skills required for A-Level and GCSE success.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Hochschule Heilbronn, Germany, a Master’s Degree in Public Policy, and a Master’s Degree in Business Communication Management. My academic background includes a strong foundation in economics, business, and public sector economics.
My teaching focuses on critical thinking, exam strategies, past-paper practice, and real-world application. I tailor lessons to each student’s needs and am happy to support students across different exam boards, including AQA, Edexcel, and OCR, by adapting to their specific specifications and assessment requirements.

41
Mico is a licensed professional teacher from the Philippines with over 14 years of experience teaching English and Literature across secondary, pre-university, and international school settings. He holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English and has taught Cambridge A Level English Language, ESL, and university entrance examination courses, as well as IGCSE Literature in English and English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Mico currently teaches IGCSE Literature in English and IGCSE EAL, preparing students for their Cambridge examinations. His experience includes teaching students from diverse linguistic and academic backgrounds, helping them develop the skills required for success in GCSE/IGCSE and A Level English and Literature. His teaching expertise covers close textual analysis, essay writing, language analysis, comparative responses, examination technique, and academic writing.
With extensive experience in international curricula, Mico understands that strong examination performance comes from more than memorising techniques. He helps students understand how to approach a question, select relevant evidence, develop an argument, and communicate ideas with precision. His sessions are structured and personalised, combining guided analysis, writing practice, exam-style questions, and targeted feedback.
Mico’s tutoring approach is supportive but academically rigorous. He works with students to identify specific areas for improvement, build confidence, and develop the independence needed to tackle unfamiliar texts and examination questions. Whether a student is strengthening foundational English skills, preparing for IGCSE/GCSE examinations, or developing more advanced A Level analytical and essay-writing skills, his goal is to help them become confident, thoughtful, and effective readers and writers.

42
Caleb A is a highly experienced and accomplished Advance Level Chemistry / Physics educator with over 30 years of international teaching experience across the United States, Qatar, China, Kenya and Ethiopia. He is currently teaching Advance Level Chemistry at a leading international school in New York, where he specializes in helping students achieve top results in one of the most challenging high school science programs.
Caleb holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Education and a Master of Science in Information Technology, and has previously served as Head of the Science Department at an international school in Qatar. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide range of curricula mainly A-Level, and IGCSE Chemistry and Physics, giving him a deep understanding of different exam systems and student needs.
Known for his clear explanations and structured approach, Caleb consistently helps students improve their understanding of complex concepts such as organic chemistry, energetics, and equilibrium. His students benefit from targeted exam preparation, data analysis skills, and problem-solving strategies that lead to measurable score improvements and increased confidence.
Caleb’s teaching style is student-centered and highly supportive. He adapts his lessons to suit individual learning styles, using real-world examples, guided practice, and exam-focused techniques to ensure progress in every session. He is passionate about helping students not only succeed academically but also develop a genuine interest in science.

38
Anant is a tutor currently studying Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Having completed his GCSEs with exemplary results—securing 6 A*s across 8 subjects, including top marks in Additional Mathematics, Extended Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics—he possesses a deep, foundational mastery of the STEM and quantitative curricula. Beyond his own academics, Anant actively builds machine learning models, engages with top-tier quantitative finance firms like Citadel, and brings extensive experience mentoring peers through the rigors of A Level Mathematics and Computer Science. Specializing in GCSE and A Level Math and Computer Science, he uses patient, real-world analogies to break down complex technical jargon. Anant ensures his students feel completely supported, helping them move beyond rote memorization to build true conceptual understanding, exam confidence, and top-tier results.

15
Over the last twenty years I have gained significant classroom and management experience at several State, Grammar and Independent Schools. I have been out of the classroom environment recently but continue to keep up to date with Education Policy and support students away from the school environment via home tutoring.
I am an experienced teacher with a passion towards my subject and have a great desire that all pupils across the ability range are inspired by Science; there is no greater job satisfaction for me than when that inspiration leads to students excelling in examinations or pursuing a career in medicine. As Head of Biology at Kingston Grammar School I managed a team of four experienced teachers- as well as being actively involved in the overall management of the Science department.
I was successful in improving both A-Level and GCSE results year on year. I was responsible for co-ordinating Community Service placements for students in the wider community. I also worked closely with Brunel University with their PGCE programme and was part of a team inspected by OFSTED and I was awarded as ‘outstanding’ in my mentoring work with PGCE students at Kingston Grammar.
Whilst my teaching specialism is Biology I have also taught Chemistry and Physics at key stage three, four and A Level. I have a broad knowledge of the science curriculum and how it fits in to schools academic policies and wider educational policies. I also have a good understanding of International Baccalaureate programs and Vocational courses. I have written schemes of work and working policies for a department as well as full risk assessments for practical work. I also have experience of intake of student new to a school be it a state school or an 11+ or Common Entrance at 13+. I have administered 11+ and 13+ examinations as well as being part of a team of interviewers assessing a student’s suitability for the school.

38
Rachel F holds a BA and MA degree in English Literature from the University of London, and is a qualified secondary school teacher in the UK with 15 years' teaching experience in UK state, independent and international schools. Rachel has extensive experience of teaching GCSE, IGCSE and A Level English Language and English Literature across a range of examination boards, with her most recent cohort of IGCSE students all receiving 8s and 9s. Rachel is also an academic, publishing research on English teaching, and has written two books for English teachers on teaching practice, with a third currently on the way. Warm, patient and caring, Rachel is passionate about supporting all students to fulfil their potential and feel confident in their abilities. Rachel is experienced at supporting students with additional needs such as dyslexia, and her many years of teaching experience means she has a range of strategies up her sleeve to support all students, no matter what they are struggling with. Sessions are always structured around individual students' needs, and focused on both analytical and writing skills to ensure students are ready to perform their best in their exams.

36
Mukul has tutored more than a thousand students (both Online and Classroom teaching in person) all over the world. He has worked as an Academic Tutor with Revision Village and Crimson Education, supporting school students for IB, A Levels, IGCSE and AP exams. Previously, he held Academic Head and Academic Director positions at Tutela Education. He had also gained experience working as a Math Instructor at The Princeton Review where he worked on improving test scores by inculcating time management skills and test taking strategies.
Mukul brings a proven track record of academic excellence, student success, and personalized instruction. With more than nine years of experience teaching Mathematics and Chemistry across international curricula and mentored students exclusively from Auckland, Berlin, Brisbane, Calgary, Chicago, Dubai, Hanoi, Jakarta, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Moscow, New Delhi, New Jersey, Perth, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Sofia, Tashkent, Tokyo, Toronto, Vancouver, and Zurich. He has supported students across IB, AP, A-levels, AQA, Edexcel, OCR, American, British, European Baccalaureate, IGCSE, Canadian, and NCEA curricula. These experiences have enabled him to develop an adaptable teaching style for his students and help them achieve their academic goals. He likes to take up challenges for short term assignments to prepare struggling students right before the exams. His students have been admitted to top undergraduate programmes at Cambridge, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell, Duke, Brown and many more. Mukul holds an Engineering degree in Biotechnology and worked as a Junior Scientist at a Bioelectronics startup after completing his Bachelor's. As a student, he secured 99.05 percentile on the JEE Mains exam in 2013, competing with over 1.1 million applicants. Hobbies - Playing Cricket and Football.
In class, he is always thinking from your level, putting himself in your shoes and giving you the best opinions and strategies to apply. He tries to break the ice between the student and teacher asap, so he can understand their concerns and help them in an efficient way. He will constantly push you to your limits, so that you achieve as per your capability. His lessons are full of laughter and enthusiasm. He will make sure that you learn Math in the simplest manner. He believes in his students and gets things done via them, so that his students realise their potential. He knows that every student has a unique learning pattern and never backs away from giving extra time beyond the session timings to make sure the student understands the concept entirely. He strives to see the smile on his students' faces after watching them get over their weakness. He shares a great camaraderie with his students, and makes sure they are not trying to mug up the concepts rather understand them and finally derive them, which is the only way they get to know how to apply them, where to apply them.
The tutors you see here are just a selection from our team of hundreds of tutors. Please contact our Learning Advisors to discuss tutoring options.
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Tell us the subject, exam board and target grade. A Learning Advisor reviews it the same day.
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Retake FAQs
We have answers to your most frequently asked questions. Anything not answered here, please reach out to our team.
Yes. Many students resit GCSE English or Maths to reach the grade 4 or 5 their sixth form, college or course requires. A GCSE resit tutor focuses on the topics and exam technique that cost marks the first time. See online GCSE tutoring.
Yes. If you've left school, you enter the exam yourself through an approved exam centre rather than through a sixth form. It's straightforward, but check the details early, especially for subjects with coursework or a practical endorsement. Your tutor provides the structure that a school would, with work set and marked every week.
Resitting a single paper often takes about a term of focused tutoring. Retaking a full subject usually runs over two or three terms. Entry deadlines close months before the exam, so the sooner the plan is set, the more time you have.
You already know most of the content, so we don't start again from scratch. Your retake tutor starts with the paper you sat and works out where the marks went. They separate what you didn't know from what you couldn't deliver under timed conditions, then spend your time on those gaps.
If you were within a mark or two of the grade boundary, a review of marking may be quicker and cheaper than resitting. Deadlines for reviews are short, so this needs to be decided in the days after results. Ask your school or exam centre as soon as possible.
It depends on how far off the grade you were. If one paper pulled your total down, a focused resit of that paper is often enough. If you were more than a grade off, or the gaps run across the course, retaking the full subject is usually better. A Learning Advisor goes through your result with you before anything is booked.
Our other services
We tutor the whole school-exam ladder, plus targeted support for students resitting a paper.
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Resits & Retakes for A-Levels and GCSE
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Send us your results, and we will tell you what to do next
Share your paper breakdown, exam board and the grade you need. We will come back with a retake plan and a shortlist of tutors, and you only pay for lessons you have completed.











