Guide to retaking A-Levels
There are many reasons why someone might want to retake their A-Levels. You could be switching career paths and need an additional qualification to apply. Or, perhaps you’re looking for a higher grade in a new subject.
Whatever the reason, retaking A-Levels at home has become a popular alternative for those who sit the exams at a different point in their lives.
When you enrol with a provider like Distance Learning Centre, you can study the exact exam board specification at your own pace. With dedicated tutor support and start times of 1–3 working days, you can even spread the cost of your course with interest-free instalments!
To learn more about how the process works, read along.
Why retake your A-Levels online?
A-Levels are linear, meaning that you don’t pick off single papers to study. Instead, you re-enter the full qualification in the summer series. Taking an online route allows you to rebuild topics steadily over the course of one summer session.
Here are some of the top reasons we see students enrolling for resits on our online courses:
You missed a conditional offer, but still want to enrol on that specific course: Most offers are conditional on exam results, so improving grades means you can reapply with stronger results next cycle.
Retaking A-Levels at home also means that you can study when it suits you: around evenings, weekends and shift patterns.
You want to pursue a more competitive university or course: With higher grades, you can widen your options. Top courses often ask for AAA and specific subjects. Online courses are also ideal for reviewing topics at your own pace before re-sitting everything together.
You need a required subject you didn’t have the first time: Many courses have subject-specific entry requirements, like Chemistry or Maths for engineering, so adding another subject could make you eligible. Or, if only one grade is holding you back, you can study just that subject online and re-enter for that qualification alone.
You had extenuating circumstances: If the sitting of your A-Levels was affected by circumstances, such as bereavement, illness or major disruptions, a resit can provide fairer evidence of your abilities.
When retaking A-levels at home, you may also find that a familiar environment and flexible schedule increase feelings of motivation.
How to get started resitting A-Levels online
So, you’ve decided that retaking A-levels at home is the path for you. What next? Getting starter is simpler than you might think: it’s time to decide which subjects you’ll retake, choose a reputable online course that matches your exam board, and map your study.
1. Choose the subjects you need to retake
Start by confirming the grades you actually need for your next step. Do you plan to reapply for a different course next year, enter an apprenticeship, or make a new UCAS application?
Then, identity the exact exam board and specification code you previously sat (UK options include AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC).
As this exam will be the one you’re already familiar with, you should study that specification to avoid having to learn a new one.
2. Find a trusted online A-Level course provider
Next, you need to select a provider that matches your exam board and supports private candidates properly (ideally, you’ll want to look for structured content mapped to the specification, tutor feedback, and clear guidance on mock exams).
Distance Learning Centre is a great example! We deliver board-specific A-level courses for private candidates. Here, we make it our job to lay out exactly how independent learners book exams.
Our individual course pages also publish internal cut-off dates for targeting a given summer session, which is great for students planning a more fast-track approach.
With us, you’ll study online, then take the official exams in person at a host exam centre. Retaking A-Levels at home has never been easier!
3. Plan your study schedule
As a self-studied course, you may find it easier to build a realistic study timetable by working backwards from the summer exam timetable. The main UK A-level series runs in May to June, so set milestones that peak just before those dates.
As a general rule, A-levels are designed around 360 guided learning hours.
So, if you’re retaking across one academic year, budget about 8–10 hours per week per subject, then increase contact with tutors and take more timed past-paper practice as the exam approaches.
4. Book your exams (the in-person part)
As an online learner, you’ll enter as a private candidate at a school or exam centre that accepts external entries.
It is the students' responsibility to book their own exams, so you’ll need to use a relevant centre-finder to locate nearby centres that take your subject and board, then contact them early to confirm availability, fees and any other practical arrangements.
Once that’s done, put the key dates in your calendar: centres can set their own cut-off dates for applications, and late fees may apply if you miss them.
5. Stay motivated!
Self-study courses, by their very nature, require the learner to be self-motivated.
When retaking A-Levels at home, break down your plan into small weekly targets. Find topics to cover, question sets to finish, and timed papers to complete under timed exam conditions.
Make sure that all materials align with your board’s specifications so that you’re practising the correct style of questions. Most importantly, build deliberate rest days into your schedule to avoid burnout.
Resit your A-Levels online with Distance Learning Centre!
If you’re considering enrolment, just think: last year’s result could be next year’s offers. There’s always time to develop your education, and with Distance Learning Centre, you can do it at home, at your own pace.
We’ll provide you with all the relevant course materials, and, once you’re exam-ready, follow our private candidate guidance to book a local host exam centre. Contact us today with any questions, and we’ll get back to you!
