November Resits
Do you need to resit or retake your GCSE English Language or GCSE Maths exam in November 2019?
GCSE Results day is when some students begin to think of re-sits.
If you obtain less than grade 4 in the June exam series, in the reformed GCSE English or GCSE Maths exam, you might well want to resit as a private candidate to achieve a higher grade. Possibly to gain a grade 5, 6 or 7. But how do you go about it?
Resitting at School
Instinctively, parents and pupils turn to their school to request a November exam entry for resit. It is often a shock and disappointment to learn that their school does not offer exam resits in November.
This policy is understandable. The June exam series is a very intense period for examination office staff and teachers who then have to deal with the release of results in August for both GCSE, A Level and BTEC.
Some students will find that when they enrol at college, because a pass in GCSE English Language and Mathematics is compulsory, these classes are part of the curriculum and they have to sit them in the June series.
Which subjects can I resit in November?
Students are often surprised to learn that the only subjects available to resit at GCSE in November are GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language. The resit examination period lasts six days, relatively short in comparison to the June series.
Re-sit November deadlines
The resit dates in November are the same for all JCQ awarding bodies. If you wish to resit AQA English, Edexcel, English or, resit OCR English, or mathematics with either of these awarding bodies, the same dates and rules apply. Entry deadline tends to be 1st week of October. However, private centres may have their own internal deadlines which may be earlier than those published.
Where can I enter for November Resit examinations?
This question arises only if your school or college does not offer resits.
You will have to consider entering for the retake as a private candidate
at a Recognised Examination Centre which accepts private or external candidates for GCSE November sittings.
AQA provides a list of Recognised Exam Resit Centres on their website. It is a matter of contacting those exam centres in your city and, within easy travelling distance, because many examinations start at 9am.
Some students perform better and are more relaxed if not sitting in a large examination room with 50 or more students. If you fall into this category, it should be a consideration when speaking to the staff at the Examination Centre.
How much does it cost to re-sit a GCSE exam
The cost will vary depending on when you made the entry, before or after the deadline. The cost will also depend on whether you have entered with a private centre or a college.
Exam resit fees will vary from Centre to Centre.
Should I consider the iGCSE examinations in October and November?
CIE (Cambridge International) Board have iGCSE examinations in June and also in October/November. Most of these iGCSE examinations have 9 – 1 status, some are still A* – G. However, the syllabus differs from GCSE examination and you will require the services of a teacher or tutor who specialises in iGCSE examinations. with knowledge of their format and syllabus, if you decide to make the switch. If that is possible, and you require an iGCSE qualification in a range of subjects, apart from English and Mathematics, CIE examinations might be an option.
How can I ensure that I do not fail the GCSE English or Mathematics when I resit in November?
Following receipt of your exam results, it is important to understand what went wrong and to find the motivation to start revising for your resit. Perhaps you will need to consult a specialist tutor or:
Have an assessment at a reputable Saturday School. Armed with the results of the assessment you can tailor your exam revision to address those weaknesses. Exam resit tips will also help, either from your tutor or by conducting research online. Prepare a revision timetable.
With good preparation and perseverance, you should attain a higher grade.
What if it is my Coursework marks that let me down?
You must analyse your Statement of Results. If your Speaking and Listening coursework marks are low, it could explain why your overall grade is low. You will need to improve that result and re-submit an improved non-exam assessment (coursework), usually by 5th November. To resit the written paper without improving your Speaking and Listening grade may result in the same low grade.
November Resit Exam Results
Resit exam Results are published mid- January. The specific date will be advised by the Centre staff or Examinations Officer.