How to Resit A Level Religious Studies

Not getting the A Level Religious Studies grade you wanted can feel like a setback, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your journey. Many students choose to resit their A Levels each year, often achieving higher grades the second time around. Whether you missed a university offer, faced personal challenges, or just underperformed on exam day, a resit provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your true potential.

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know about how to resit A Level Religious Studies: why you might resit, how to register, your study options, and practical strategies to improve your grade.

Key Takeaways

• You can resit A Level Religious Studies with AQA, OCR, or Edexcel in the summer exam cycle.

• Register early (by January) through your school or as a private candidate.

• Pick the study route that suits you: sixth form, independent study, online, or tutoring.

• Improve by focusing on essay structure, evaluation (AO2), and timed past papers.

• Resitting doesn’t block university entry - many students do better the second time around and achieve their goals.

Why You Might Want to Resit A Level Religious Studies

There are lots of reasons students decide to resit:

• Missed a university offer: If you narrowly missed the grade needed for your chosen course.

• Personal circumstances: Illness, family issues, or exam stress may have affected your performance.

• Underperformance on the day: Perhaps your revision strategy didn’t work, or exam nerves threw you off.

Whatever your reason, remember that resitting is a valid choice and a positive step. Many students achieve higher grades on their second attempt, especially when they use their first attempt as a learning experience and focus on improving their exam technique.

Can You Resit A Level Religious Studies?

Yes. All major exam boards (AQA, OCR, Edexcel) allow you to resit A Level Religious Studies.

There’s no limit to the number of times you can retake, though most students resit in the next exam cycle, which runs in May and June each year.

Resits are treated the same as first sittings: you’ll sit the same style of exam papers, based on the current specification. Your highest grade is the one that counts, so there’s no disadvantage in trying again.

How to Register For Your A Level Religious Studies Resit

To take your resit, you’ll need to register with an exam centre. For some students, this will be their old school or college. If that isn’t an option, you can enter as a private candidate through another school or exam centre.

What you’ll need to do:

• Confirm your exam board (AQA, OCR, or Edexcel).

• Find an exam centre that accepts private candidates if your school won’t.

• Register by the deadline — usually January for summer exams.

• Pay your exam entry fees (often £100–£200 per paper, plus admin charges for private candidates).

• Provide photo ID and any required forms.

The process can take time, so it’s best to start early in the autumn term and confirm your place well before the deadline.

Study Options for Your Resit Year

How you prepare for your A Level Religious Studies resit depends on your situation and learning style. Here are the main routes:

• Return to sixth form or college: Some schools allow students to repeat Year 13 or retake exams alongside their other studies.

• Independent study: If you’re confident working alone, you can revise using textbooks, past papers, and online platforms like Save My Exams, which provide exam-board-specific notes and practice questions.

• Online learning provider: Distance learning courses give you structured content and tutor support, with flexibility to work at your own pace.

• Private tutor: A tutor can provide personalised feedback on your essays and help strengthen your essay technique. You’ll receive assistance with any specific areas where you need improvement.

Many students find a combination of these options works best, for example, using Save My Exams for daily revision, supported by occasional tutoring sessions for essay feedback.

Tips to Improve Your Religious Studies Grade

Religious Studies is an essay-based subject, so the key to improvement is often technique as much as knowledge. As an A Level RS teacher, I’ve found that sharpening your essay structure and evaluation skills is key to achieving those top grades.

Here are some practical tips to ensure improved grades:

• Revise key terminology and scholars: Make flashcards for philosophical, ethical, and theological terms, and practise embedding scholars naturally into your essays.

• Master essay structure: Practise writing your essays using a clear structure. You should have an introduction with a clear thesis, three well-developed arguments, and a balanced conclusion that directly answers the question.

• Focus on evaluation: Don’t just explain theories, engage with them in your answers. Weigh them up, compare strengths and weaknesses, and show why one argument is stronger.

• Use past papers and mark schemes: Time your answers, and then check your work against the official mark schemes to spot missing points or weak analysis.

• Seek feedback: Share essays with a teacher, tutor, or peer who can highlight where your argument isn’t clear or developed enough.

The more you practice applying your knowledge directly to exam questions, the more confident you’ll feel walking into your resit.

How an A Level Resit Affects Your University Plans

Resitting an A Level doesn’t close doors to university. In fact, many students go on to secure places after improving their grades. Many universities welcome applicants who retake exams, especially if you can explain the reasons for retaking your exam in your personal statement or if your school provides context in your reference.

Some competitive courses, such as medicine, or institutions like Oxford and Cambridge Universities, may have stricter rules about resits. Therefore, always check the admissions policies of the universities you’re interested in. For most courses, though, strong grades from a resit are treated the same as first-sit grades.

You can take a gap year and reapply in the next UCAS cycle, or apply during your resit year. Either way, performing well in your mocks and final resit exams can significantly boost your chances.

How to Prepare for A Level RS Resit

Resitting any A Level can be an emotional challenge, requiring discipline and motivation. Here are some strategies that work:

• Set weekly goals: Break your syllabus into manageable chunks and track your progress. Tick off topics as you master them. Small, steady wins add up.

• Use your past experience: Look back at your examiners’ reports, scripts, or teacher feedback. They’re a roadmap for improvement.

• Stay consistent: Build a timetable that includes daily revision blocks, but allows for rest and downtime to avoid burnout.

• Join study groups: Whether online or in person, study groups help keep you accountable and reduce feelings of isolation.

• Keep motivated: Remember that a resit is a chance to prove to yourself (and universities) what you’re capable of.

Treat this year as a fresh start. You already know the exam structure, so you can focus your energy on refining your technique and showing examiners your best work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does It Cost to Resit A Level Religious Studies?

Exam entry fees typically range from £100 to £200 per paper, depending on the exam board and centre. 

If you register as a private candidate, centres may also charge an admin fee.

Can I Just Resit One Paper Instead of the Whole A Level?

Yes, if your exam board structures the subject into separate papers, you can resit individual components. 

However, many students choose to resit the whole A Level to maximise their chance of improving the overall grade.

Can I Resit A Levels Online?

You need to sit the exam in person at an approved exam centre.

However, you can prepare for your resit through online courses or distance learning providers.

Final Thoughts

Resitting A Level Religious Studies can feel like a challenge, but it’s also a second chance to show what you’re really capable of. With the proper planning, resources, and focus, many students can improve by at least one grade on their resit.

Save My Exams provides exam-board-specific revision notes, practice questions, and past papers to help you build confidence and refine your exam technique. Combine these with consistent revision and feedback, and you’ll give yourself the best chance of success, whether your goal is university, a better career path, or simply proving to yourself how far you’ve come.