What happens if you do worse in a GCSE Resit?

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GCSEs are very important as they might show how you will be doing in your A-levels. It may also be a factor that decides which A-level you will be taking in the future. But have you ever wondered what if you fail in GCSEs? Well if you ever fail in the GCSE you will need to resit GCSE depending upon the subjects. But what if you were still not able to make out of it?

When you are resiting for your GCSE again and again you will have to pay more. If we talk about the grade, you will be getting the one that is higher. Though we will be further discussing it in detail, let us first know what is GCSE resit.

What is GCSE resit?

GCSE resit means retaking the GCSE exam if you fail or retaking a GCSE, whose score you want to increase. Although there is no specific requirement to retake a subject you fail except for Maths or English. This is because most employers look for these two subjects while hiring you. Though you may want to increase your grade in other subjects as well by retaking the exam.

Can you take your GCSEs again?

As mentioned above you will need to pass the GCSE in math and English as it is mandatory. If you fail these exams you will need to give them til you are 18. However, you can still take these exams after 18 as these two subjects are mandatory to pass.

What happens if you do worse in a GCSE resit?

You do not need to pass your GCSE courses the first time you retake them. However, if you are under 19, you must receive a passing grade in English and mathematics. Depending on the course and the test board, each GCSE resit you take will cost differently. Although depending on your age, you might not have to pay. If you do worse in it, you must not get worried about it. You will be getting a grade that is higher. An easier option is to pursue a Functional Skills Qualification if you’re having trouble earning the marks you need.

What is a functional skill qualification?

A functional skill qualification (FSQ), covers more practical knowledge and is also relevant to workplaces and also for further education. You can take it if you are struggling with your GCSE math or English. In FSQ, some questions are based on scenarios in everyday life. For English, you may be graded based on the speaking, listening, and communicating components. It involves how well you are using punctuation and grammar in your communication. For math, you will be graded based on your skills in calculating with or without calculators. 

Will your grade go down if you do worse on your GCSE resit?

You retake your GCSE to improve in the subject. However, according to various studies, 60% of the students will not improve in the exam, and out of that 10% of students do even worse. Though if you retake your GCSE and still do worse in it, the grade that you will get will be the higher one.

What GCSEs do you have to retake if you fail?

If you have failed in math and English literature and language, you will need to retake them. You will need to continue to study it till you are 18 years old. If you received a grade of 3 and are studying full-time next year then you must retake the GCSE. You can take a functional skills qualification instead of a GCSE if you have a grade of 3 and will be studying part-time. If you received a grade of 2 or lower, you can substitute a functional skills qualification for a GCSE. If you plan to pursue an apprenticeship, you will be required to study Math and English.

Are GCSEs resist worth?

As discussed above GCSE resit means to retake any GCSE you fail or might want to improve in it. This means that it is definitely worth taking it as it will give you a chance to increase your final grade in the subject or will help you to improve your grade on the pass GCSE which had a low grade. So even if you have passed the grade but have an unsatisfactory grade, then also you can take GCSE resit in the particular subject.

How many times can you resit GCSE?

There is no fixed number of times you will be taking up GCSEs. The only minimum requirement is that you will need to have a grade of 4 in math and English. Rest it’s up to you if you want to retake the exam of other subjects that you are failing or not. However many students do resist GCSE or other subjects in order to increase their grades. 

How much does it cost to resit GCSE exams?

Resetting a GCSE exam will not cost you a single penny if the subjects you failed are mandatory. This means that if you have failed in math or English then there will be no cost for you to pay. However other exams that you will be retaking will have their own cost. Also if you have already passed both English and math and still are retaking them, then you will need to pay for them as well.

You will be paying the course fee which includes tuition fees. The amount you will be paying will depend upon the way you are giving the exams and also on the board. If you are taking the exam as a private student it will cost you differently than if you are taking the exam from a school.

Do GCSE grades matter?

GCSE is commonly known as the factor indicating how you will be performing in your A-levels or any other further exams. Also when you are going for further courses or exams, you will need to have at least 5 or 4 GCSEs to get into some of the courses. Though it might not be considered by some employers, most of them will look at your GCSEs as they always want to hire the best candidates for themselves. You must also remember that you should not lie about your GCSE grades in UCAS.

Conclusion

GCSEs can be an important major for knowing how well you will be doing in your A-levels. Although it is not necessary to pass all your GCSEs, it is essential to pass Math and English. If you fail these two subjects then you will need to resit for both the GCSEs. However, you can retake GCSEs in other subjects if you want to increase your grade in other subjects. If you are not able to improve the grade, then the higher grade will only be marked for that subject.

William Christie
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