A-Levels: What happens if you fail?
Not every result's day looks the same. While we all want to achieve the best, sometimes personal circumstances (and even a particularly difficult exam) might see us fall short. But failed A-Levels aren’t the end of the world.
Students who don’t get the results they wanted still have so many opportunities. With the help of your educational institute and university of choice, you may be able to formulate a new, even better plan.
What can I do with failed A-levels?
As we’ve said, failing your A-Levels isn’t the be all end all. Even though it may feel like a big defeat on the day, we promise that, with a bit of planning, you’ll soon be back on track.
Sitting down with a teacher will help re-orient your thinking. Over the years, they’ve likely helped plenty of disappointed students through results day. Vent your frustrations (potentially, have a cry), and then wipe your tears! It’s time to get started.
1. Talk to your sixth-form or college
When applying for a place at university, students will receive either a ‘Conditional’ or ‘Unconditional’ offer. Conditional, meaning that their place on the course is subject to achieving the university’s outlined grade requirements (this could be ABB or AAA).
Unconditional offers mean that, no matter what you get at A-Level, you are guaranteed a place on the course. Students will, usually, receive these offers a few weeks before exam season.
On results day, students can log into UCAS’s online portal to see if their place has been confirmed: this can indicate whether they have achieved their required grades without having to physically pick up the results.
If your application has been unsuccessful, it’s worth visiting the school anyway. You may have an assigned form teacher or year head who is the go-to person for career advice, and it’s them you should talk to.
2. Retake your A-Levels at a later date (with Distance Learning Centre!)
Coming back to your A-Levels at a later date is always viable. Whether you need time out to prepare or even time off from school, course providers like Distance Learning Centre allow students to re-take their exams at a better time.
How much does it cost to re-take your A-levels?
The expenses associated with retaking A-Levels can vary, depending on the course. At Distance Learning Centre, we offer:
Prices range from £475-£525, and we also offer payment options (including splitting your course fee into 2 or 3 monthly instalments).
Can you re-take A-Levels without going back to school?
Yes, of course. As an online learning institution, this is exactly what we offer.
You may want to re-take your A-Levels at any age, whether you’ve just left college at 18 or failed them 10 years ago as a 28-year-old. Our self-study courses make it possible for you to resit on your own terms.
3. Look into apprenticeships
If you’re someone who has plenty of practical skills but doesn’t do well in exams, an apprenticeship could suit you perfectly. Apprenticeships offer structured training programmes that combine work with study, so that you learn while you work!
Failing A-Levels doesn't necessarily bar you from pursuing an apprenticeship. In fact, intermediate apprenticeships (equivalent to five GCSE passes) often don't require prior qualifications.
You'll receive a salary during your training and gain hands-on experience in your chosen field. With an 80/20 split between practical working and classroom learning, you’ll also receive a salary.
4. Apply for clearing
Clearing is a UCAS service that matches applicants without offers to university places that are yet to be filled. Universities may accept applicants with lower grades during clearing, depending on course availability.
For 2025 entry, clearing opens on 5 July 2025. A-Level results are typically released in mid-August, with many students securing places through clearing. You can speak to your teacher about this, as they will be able to guide you through the process.
Do universities accept lower grades in clearing?
Universities may exercise flexibility during clearing, potentially accepting applicants with grades slightly below their standard entry requirements.
5. Speak to your university of choice
If your A-Level results fall short of the conditions set by your first choice university, you can also contact their admissions office. They may exercise discretion in such situations, especially if you only very narrowly missed the required grades.
For instance, some institutions consider applicants who are one or two grades below the standard entry requirements, particularly if they are eligible for contextual offers.
6. Appeal your grade
You may be in a situation where you feel you really aced the exam, and want it to be re-marked. In which case, you can pay to have your papers re-evaluated.
Requesting a review of your marking can be a suitable option if your marks are close to the boundary of a higher grade, and an increase could significantly impact your university admissions or career prospects.
How much does it cost to get A-Levels re-marked?
The cost of a review varies depending on the exam board and the specific service requested. For example:
- AQA: Charges £48.65 per unit/component for a standard review of marking and £57.85 for a priority review, which is expedited for students awaiting university placements.
- Pearson Edexcel: The fees for a standard review are £46.70 per paper/unit and £53.70 for a priority review.
Typically, if a grade changes as a result of the review, the fee is refunded. However, if the mark changes, but the overall grade remains the same, you may still be charged.
7. Apply for a gap year!
Taking some time to reassess is one of the best things you can do, and what better way to do it than on holiday?
Of course, this isn’t a viable option for everyone, but if you have a part-time job or some savings put away, a gap year can be a wonderful opportunity.
Not only do you get to see the world, but a gap year provides the chance to reapply to universities with actual grades rather than predicted ones. In the meantime, you can set out exactly what you want to achieve and gain some more experience.
Take an A-Level course with Distance Learning Centre!
Studying online is one of the best ways to take education back into your own hands. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens! Get your A-Levels today, and start your journey towards higher education.
