What To Do If You Miss An A Level Exam

Did you miss an A Level exam? You may well be panicking right now. But first thing’s first: take a breath. This isn’t the disaster you might fear.

Yes, it's scary. Yes, you're probably worried about your university place. But there are ways to help fix this problem.

Missing an exam doesn't automatically mean you've failed. The system has safeguards called "special consideration" that can help protect your grades.

You need to act fast, though. Every day counts. I’m going to walk you through what you need to do.

Key Takeaways

• If you miss an A Level exam, contact your school or exam centre immediately — you have only 7 days to apply for special consideration.

• Special consideration can boost your grade slightly if you missed a paper for a valid, evidenced reason (e.g. illness, bereavement, accident), but it can’t fully replace sitting the exam.

• Missing all papers in a subject usually means no grade; your main options are resits in November or the following summer, and possibly deferring university entry.

• Communicate quickly with UCAS and universities — some may offer flexibility, alternative routes, or deferrals if you explain your situation.

Step 1: Tell Your School or Exam Centre Immediately

Right now: drop everything and contact your school. Don't wait until tomorrow. Don't wait until you feel better. Do it today.

Who should you contact?

• Your exam officer (they handle all the paperwork)

• Head of year or sixth form

• Your subject teacher

• Main school office if you can't reach anyone else

What will they need to know?

• Which exam you missed

• When it was scheduled

• Why you couldn't attend

• Any evidence you have (more on this below)

The crucial deadline: You need to report this within 7 days of the exam. 

Some schools are very good at chasing this up. Others might assume you just didn't show up. Don't leave it to chance – make sure they know what happened.

Step 2: Understand Special Consideration

What Is Special Consideration?

Special consideration is the exam boards' way of being fair when life events get in the way of exams. Whether that be a serious illness, a bereavement or something else entirely.

If you miss an exam for a valid reason, they can adjust your overall grade to account for the missing paper. It's not perfect, but it's something.

There are two types:

• Partial absence – you missed some papers and sat others

• Complete absence – you missed all your exams for that subject

Who Is Eligible for Special Consideration After Missing An A Level Exam?

Not every reason counts as "valid" - exam boards are quite strict about this.

Valid reasons include:

• Sudden illness on exam day

• Family emergency or bereavement

• Accident or injury

• Religious observance conflict

• Being involved in an accident on the way to the exam

You'll need evidence such as:

• GP letter confirming illness

• Hospital admission records

• Police report (for accidents)

• Death certificate (for bereavement)

• Official documentation for emergencies

Invalid reasons:

• Oversleeping

• Transport delays (unless exceptional)

• Misreading the timetable

• Anxiety alone (unless severe and documented)

• Holiday or family celebration

According to JCQ special considerations regulations (opens in a new tab), the evidence must be from an independent professional and submitted within the deadline.

How Much Can Special Consideration Help?

Special consideration isn't magic. It can't completely replace a missing exam, but it can boost your overall grade slightly.

• If you miss one paper out of several, they'll estimate what you might have scored based on your other papers. This estimate gets added to your total.

• The maximum boost is usually around 5% of the total marks for that qualification. It might not sound like much, but it could be the difference between grades.

Example: If you needed 240 marks for a B grade and only scored 230 from your completed papers, special consideration might add those extra 10 marks you need.

What If You Missed All Your A Level Exams?

This is trickier. If you didn't sit any papers for a subject, you won't get a grade – unless your circumstances were truly exceptional.

Your options:

• Autumn resits – register for November exams (not all subjects available)

• Next summer – retake the full qualification

• Appeal to exam board – if circumstances were extraordinary

Whichever of these options you need to pursue, all will be fine in the end. It may take some work, but you will get there. Have a look at our A Level retake guide to see what’s involved.

Impact on university entrance:

• Your conditional offer probably won't be met

• You'll need to defer your place or reapply

• Some universities might be flexible – contact them immediately

Contact UCAS (opens in a new tab) straight away. They can help you understand your options and might be able to defer your applications.

What Happens to Your University Offer If You Miss An A Level Exam?

Contacting UCAS and Universities

Don't try to hide from the issue. The sooner you tell UCAS and your chosen universities what's happened, the better.

Call UCAS (opens in a new tab) first – they can advise on deferring your application or accessing clearing (opens in a new tab).

Then contact your universities directly. Speak to their admissions teams. Explain the situation honestly and ask about:

• Deferring your place until next year

• Alternative entry requirements

• Whether they'll accept special consideration grades

• Access to clearing with your actual results

Conditional Offers and Missed Exams

If your offer was conditional on specific A Level grades, missing an exam puts that at risk.

But universities can be understanding. Many will:

• Hold your place if you can defer

• Consider your circumstances when making decisions

• Offer alternative pathways or foundation years

The key is communication. Universities would rather work with you than lose a good student to circumstances beyond your control.

Can You Resit a Missed A Level Exam?

Yes, but timing matters.

November resits are available for some subjects (mainly core subjects like Maths, English, and Sciences). Check with your exam board. 

Summer resits are available for all subjects but mean waiting almost a full year.

You can check out the resit dates for 2025/6 across subjects.

Where to resit:

• Through your school (if they'll register you)

• At a local college

• Through a private exam centre

• As a private candidate

Costs vary but expect to pay exam fees, which can be £100-300 per subject depending on the board.

Impact on timeline:

• November resits might let you start university in January (rare) or next September

• Summer resits mean deferring university for a full year

Coping with the Stress of Missing an A Level Exam

This may feel like one of the most stressful things that's happened to you. Understandably so! 

You might be feeling panic about your future or guilt about letting people down. There may be anger at the situation and overwhelm from all the options of what to do now.

These feelings are completely normal. Anyone would feel the same way.

Here are some practical steps to help:

• Talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling

• Remember that this isn't permanent – this can be resolved quickly

• Focus on what you can control right now (contacting school, gathering evidence)

• Take care of your physical health – eat, sleep, exercise

If you're struggling mentally:

• Contact YoungMinds (opens in a new tab) (0808 802 5544) for mental health support

• Speak to your school's counselling service

• Call Samaritans (opens in a new tab) (116 123) if you need someone to talk to immediately

Remember: missing an exam is just a setback, it likely won’t preclude the future you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a valid reason for missing an A Level exam?

Sudden illness, family emergencies, accidents, or bereavement are usually accepted. You'll need independent evidence like a GP letter or police report. Personal choice, oversleeping, or minor transport delays typically don't count.

Can I get a grade if I miss an exam due to illness?

Yes, through special consideration. If you missed one paper but sat others, they can estimate your missing marks and adjust your grade accordingly. You'll need medical evidence from a GP.

How long do I have to apply for special consideration?

Your school must apply within 7 days of the exam. Don't delay – contact them immediately with evidence of your circumstances.

Will missing one paper affect my overall grade?

It might, but special consideration can help. The exam board will estimate what you might have scored on the missing paper based on your performance in other papers. It's not perfect, but it's designed to be fair.

Take Action Now

Here's what you need to do right now:

1. Contact your school immediately – don't wait

2. Gather evidence – GP letters, official documents, anything that proves why you missed the exam

3. Apply for special consideration – let your school handle the paperwork

4. Contact UCAS and universities – be upfront about the situation

5. Look after yourself – this is stressful, but you'll get through it

Missing an A Level exam isn't the end of the world. It's just a plot twist that needs sorting out.

Yes, it's complicated. Yes, it's stressful. But there are people and systems designed to help in just such situations.

As some reassurance: I have taught a number of students who had to miss their exams because of personal or family issues. They almost always eventually got into the university of choice. It might just have taken a little longer with a few delays. 

So, have hope. 

References

• JCQ special considerations regulations (opens in a new tab)

• YoungMinds (opens in a new tab)

• Samaritans (opens in a new tab) 

• UCAS (opens in a new tab)