How to Resit A Level Biology

Didn't get the A Level Biology grade you were hoping for? Missing out on your university offer or falling short of the grades you worked so hard for is really frustrating. Perhaps you needed an A for your firm choice, or maybe you're one grade away from studying Medicine or Veterinary Science. Whatever the reason, it's a tough blow.

But here's what you need to know: you can retake A Level Biology. Every year, thousands of students resit their A Levels and go on to achieve much better results. With the right revision strategy, better exam technique, and lessons learned from your first attempt, you're in a strong position to improve.

I have taught thousands of students during my time as Head of Science and guided countless A Level Biology students through the process of resits. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about resitting A Level Biology. We'll cover when resits happen, how to register as a private candidate, whether you need to redo your practical endorsement, and most importantly, how to prepare so you can boost your grade and get back on track.

Key Takeaways

• A Level resits are only available during the main summer exam series (May to June) - only a very limited number of subject exams take place in the Autumn following the summer exams

• You must retake all written papers of the A Level Biology exams, not just the ones you struggled with. A Level Biology is now a linear qualification, so you can't just resit one paper

• If you already passed the practical endorsement, you don't need to repeat it—it carries forward  (opens in a new tab)

• There's no limit to how many times you can resit

Who Should Consider Resitting A Level Biology?

Resitting isn't for everyone, but it might be the right choice if any of these situations apply to you:

• You missed your university offer

  • Perhaps you needed AAB and got ABB, or you fell just short of the grades for your insurance choice. Many students take a gap year and resit to reapply with better grades

• You're planning to study a competitive STEM course

  • Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry, and Biomedical Science courses often require A or A* grades in Biology. If you're serious about these careers, a resit might be essential

• You know you can do better

  • Maybe exam nerves got the better of you, or perhaps you didn't revise effectively enough. A resit gives you another chance to show what you're really capable of

When Can You Resit A Level Biology?

A Level Biology resits are only available during the summer exam series, which runs from May to June. There's no November resit option for A Level Biology, unlike GCSEs.

This means if you sat your exams in summer 2025 and want to resit, you'll need to wait until summer 2026. The gap gives you plenty of time to revise properly and address the areas where you struggled.

How to Register for an A Level Biology Resit

If you're no longer in school or sixth form, you'll need to register as a private candidate. Here's how the process works.

• Start by talking to your current school or sixth form teacher; they will have supported many students on this path and will be best advised to support your individual needs

• If they are unable to accommodate your resit exams, then you will need to find an exam centre that accepts private candidates. Not all schools and colleges do this, so you may need to search online for "A Level exam centres for private candidates" plus your location. Some centres specialise in private candidates and offer dedicated support

• Contact the centre well in advance. Registration deadlines for summer exams typically fall around February or March, so don't leave it too late. Some centres have limited spaces for private candidates

• Provide your previous exam details. You'll need your Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI) number from your original exams, especially if you're carrying forward your practical endorsement

• Costs vary widely depending on your location and exam centre. Budget for several hundred pounds per subject, as you'll need to pay for all three exam papers plus administration fees

Do You Need to Redo the Practical Endorsement?

The practical endorsement is a pass/fail assessment based on your practical work throughout the course. It appears on your certificate alongside your grade.

If you already passed the practical endorsement during your original A Level course, it carries forward automatically—you don't need to repeat it. Just make sure you provide your UCI number when registering so the exam centre can confirm your previous pass.

If you didn't pass the practical endorsement first time, or if you're taking Biology as a completely new subject, you'll need to complete it. This means attending a centre that offers practical endorsement courses and completing a minimum of 12 required practical activities.

Most universities prefer (or require) a pass in the practical endorsement for Science courses. Check your university's specific requirements, but generally speaking, you'll want to have this pass on your certificate.

Which Exam Board Are You With?

You must resit with the same exam board you sat originally. You can't switch from AQA to OCR or Edexcel for a resit, as each board has different specifications and content.

AQA A Level Biology (7401/7402) (opens in a new tab) is the most popular exam board in the UK. It consists of three papers covering topics like biological molecules, cells, organisms, and ecology. Paper 3 includes synoptic questions that test content from across the entire specification.

OCR A Level Biology (H420) offers two specifications: Biology A (H420) (opens in a new tab) and Biology B (Advancing Biology, H422) (opens in a new tab). Make sure you know which one you originally took. 

Edexcel (Pearson) A Level Biology also offer two specifications: Biology A (Salters-Nuffield): 9BN0 (opens in a new tab) and Biology B: 9BI0 (opens in a new tab). So you need to be sure which specification you were taught originally. 

Check your original exam certificate or results slip to confirm which board you sat with. This determines which specification you need to revise from.

How to Prepare for Your A Level Biology Resit

Analyse Your Previous Exam Performance

Before starting your revision, take an honest look at where things went wrong. As a Head of Science this is one of the first things we would consider with our A Level Biology students. It is key you think about the following questions to ensure you get the best possible results out of a resit exam.

• Which paper was weakest? 

  • If you struggled with Paper 1 but did well on Papers 2 and 3, you know where to focus your efforts. Request a copy of your exam scripts from your exam board if possible—seeing exactly where you lost marks is invaluable

• Was it content knowledge or exam technique? 

  • Maybe you understood the topics but didn't explain your answers fully enough, or perhaps you ran out of time. Identifying the root cause helps you target your revision

• Did you revise effectively? 

  • If you left revision too late or didn't practise enough past papers, you now know you need a more structured approach

Use the Specification as a Checklist

Your exam board's specification (opens in a new tab) is your roadmap to success. Every single thing you need to know is listed in that document.

Download the specification from your exam board's website. Print it out or keep a digital copy handy while revising.

Work through it methodically, topic by topic. Tick off each point as you revise it and feel confident you understand it. This ensures you don't miss any content.

Save My Exams' A Level Biology revision notes follow the specifications exactly, making it easy to work through systematically.

Practise Data Interpretation and Long-Answer Questions

A Level Biology isn't just about memorising facts. You need to be able to interpret data, apply your knowledge, and write extended answers. This is a key area of revision I would encourage my A Level Biology students to focus on. You can’t practise these enough!

Data interpretation questions appear in every paper. Practise describing trends, calculating rates of change, and drawing conclusions from graphs and tables. These questions are worth significant marks.

Long-answer questions (6-9 marks) require detailed, structured responses. Use the mark scheme to understand what level of detail examiners expect. Practice writing answers within time limits.

Synoptic questions test your ability to link topics together. These often appear in Paper 3 and require you to apply knowledge from across the entire specification. 

At Save My Exams we have created questions specifically to practice these areas. Use these AQA Biology cross-topic questions to guide your revision. 

Work Through A Level Biology Past Papers and Examiner Reports

Past papers are your most valuable revision tool. They show you exactly what the exam looks like and how questions are phrased.

Start with topic-by-topic questions to build confidence. Save My Exams offers thousands of exam questions organised by topic, perfect for targeted practice.

Move on to full past papers under timed conditions. This builds exam stamina and teaches you to pace yourself properly. Aim to complete at least five full papers for each component before your resit.

Read the examiner reports for past papers. These documents explain what examiners were looking for and where students commonly lost marks. They're gold dust for understanding how to improve your answers.

How Do Universities View a Resit?

Most universities accept resits, but there are some things you should know.

Both your first grade and resit grade will appear on your UCAS application, and universities have their own policies on resits. Generally speaking, the better grade will be considered.

Some highly competitive courses, particularly Medicine and Veterinary Science, may prefer first-time grades or have specific resit policies. Check directly with the universities you're interested in to understand their stance.

If you're applying after a resit, address it positively. Explain what you learned from the experience and how you improved your approach. This shows maturity and determination.

Many students successfully gain places on competitive courses after resitting. Universities value improvement and recognise that one set of exams doesn't define your abilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resit just one A Level Biology paper?

No. A Level Biology is a linear qualification, which means you must retake all three papers to receive a new grade. You can't pick and choose which papers to resit, even if you did well on some of them. Your new overall grade will be based on the performance across all three papers in your resit attempt.

How many times can I resit A Level Biology?

There's no official limit. You can keep resitting until you achieve your target grade. However, each resit costs money and takes time, so it's worth investing properly in your revision to give yourself the best chance each time.

Will universities know I resat the subject?

Yes. Both your first grade and resit grade must be included on your UCAS application. However, most universities focus on whether you meet their entry requirements rather than how many attempts it took. For some highly competitive courses, first-time grades may be preferred, but many universities view resits positively as evidence of determination.

Is it possible to go from a D to an A?

Yes, absolutely. It's a significant jump, but it's achievable with dedicated revision of your A Level Biology course. Students have gone from Ds to As by properly understanding the specification, practicing exam technique, and working through lots of past papers. Going from a D to a B is very common, and D to A is harder but definitely possible with the right approach. The key is identifying exactly what went wrong and addressing those gaps systematically.

Final Thoughts

Resitting A Level Biology isn't the end of the world—it's a fresh start.

Thousands of students improve their grades through resits every year and go on to study at top universities. With a clearer understanding of what went wrong, a solid revision plan, and better exam technique, you're in a much stronger position to succeed.

Remember, choosing to resit shows determination and resilience. You're not giving up—you're taking control of your future and refusing to settle for less than you're capable of. That's something to be genuinely proud of.

Start your revision early, work through the specification systematically, and practise as many past papers as you can. With the right approach, a better grade is absolutely within your reach.

You've got this.

References

• A Level Exam Resit Dates 2025/26: Key Dates & Deadlines - Save My Exams

• Can I Resit My A Level Biology Exam? | Private Candidate Guide - Study From Home (opens in a new tab)

• AQA A Level Biology (opens in a new tab)

• Cambridge OCR A Level Biology (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel A Level Biology (opens in a new tab)