A-level resits in 2027 happen once: in the summer exam series, from 10 May to 22 June 2027. There is no January series and no November series. Results come out on Thursday 12 August 2027.
That makes the exams the easy part of the calendar. The date that catches people out is 21 February 2027, the exam boards’ entry deadline, and if you are retaking outside a school, the date that actually binds you is usually earlier still, because it is set by whichever exam centre you use.
This page is the calendar for anyone retaking next summer, with the dates in the order they arrive.
The 2027 resit dates
From the Joint Council for Qualifications’ key dates for the June 2027 series, which apply across the boards:
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 20 November 2026 | Entry information for June 2027 released to centres |
| 21 February 2027 | Deadline for entries |
| 21 March 2027 | Deadline for access arrangement applications |
| 10 May 2027 | First exam on the common timetable |
| 15 May 2027 | Deadline for centre-assessed marks |
| 22 June 2027 | Last A-level exam on the common timetable |
| 23 June 2027 | Contingency day |
| 12 August 2027 | A-level results day |
Your own papers will fall somewhere inside that window, and most subjects finish before the end of it. We have the detail in A-level exam dates 2027. If you only read one thing there, make it the contingency day: do not book anything for 23 June.
Why there is no January or November resit
A-levels in England are linear. You sit all of a subject’s papers at the end of the course, in one series, and that series runs once a year in May and June.
Two things confuse this. The first is GCSE, which does have a November series, but only for English language and maths. The second is older advice: January A-level modules were removed from the system years ago, and plenty of web pages have not caught up.
So if your plan depends on a resit before next summer, there is no such option in England. The alternatives are to take the summer series or, for some university routes, to use a foundation year.
The deadline that matters is not the one in the table
The 21 February date is the last day a centre can make a normal entry with the exam board. A school student never thinks about this. If you are a private candidate, it is the last day your centre can enter you, and your centre needs time to do it.
Private candidate centres set their own cut-off, normally ahead of the board’s, and centres fill. Some close to private entries as soon as they reach capacity, and some subjects are harder to place than others. Treat the centre’s date as the real one, and find out what it is this term rather than in February.
If you miss the deadline you can usually still enter, but it costs more. At Pearson Edexcel, for example, the entry fee is doubled from 22 February 2027 and trebled from 22 April 2027. Other boards set their own late fee multiples, and your centre may add a charge of its own and is under no obligation to take a late entry at all.
Our guide to A-level retake costs breaks down what the normal fees look like.
What to do, and by when
Now to the end of November
- Confirm which specification you sat. Exam board and specification code are on your results slip, and a resit is normally easiest on the same one.
- Contact centres. Ask three questions: do you take private candidates for my subject, what is your entry cut-off, and what do you charge?
- If your subject has coursework or a practical element, ask about that on the same call. More on this below.
December and January
- Enter. There is no advantage in waiting, and the centre’s places do not grow.
- If you have applied through UCAS, make sure your pending retake is listed correctly. The January UCAS deadline falls on 13 January 2027.
February and March
- Confirm your entry has been made, and check the subject, board and specification on the statement of entry.
- If you need access arrangements such as extra time, raise it early. The 21 March deadline is for the centre’s application, and the evidence has to exist first.
April to June
- Check your statement of entry against the timetable and watch for clashes.
- Keep 23 June clear.
Coursework and practicals: the question to ask first
A linear A-level means you resit every written paper in the subject. The papers that went well are not banked. See how many times you can resit for how that plays out.
Non-exam assessment is different, and it is the reason to start early. AQA says that private candidates resitting can carry forward a previous NEA result, and that a school or college should accept a private entry for an NEA subject only if the candidate will be able to complete the NEA. In practice that gives you two situations:
| Your situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| You have a previous NEA mark, same subject and specification | You can usually ask to carry it forward |
| You have never done the NEA, or you are changing board | You need a centre willing to supervise and authenticate it |
The second situation can rule centres out, and that is much better discovered in November than in February. Science practical endorsements have their own rules, which we cover in the subject guides, such as chemistry.
Is it too late to start for 2027?
No. You have about six months before the first paper, which is plenty for one or two subjects if you start in a structured way. Whether you do that alone, with private tuition or on a retake course depends on how far you are from the grade you need and how much of the content you are confident in.
What gets tight quickly is the admin. A student who starts revising in January but only looks for a centre in March is in a far worse position than one who books a centre now and starts revising after Christmas.
FAQs
When are A-level retakes in 2027?
In the summer series, from 10 May to 22 June 2027. It is the only A-level series of the year in England.
Can you resit A-levels in January?
No. There is no January A-level series. The next opportunity after this summer’s results is May and June 2027.
Can you resit A-levels in November?
No. The November series is for GCSE English language and maths only.
What is the deadline to enter for A-level resits in 2027?
The boards’ deadline is 21 February 2027. Late fees apply after that, and private candidate centres usually close earlier, so check with your centre.
When do I get my 2027 resit results?
Thursday 12 August 2027, the same day as everybody else.
Do I have to redo all my papers?
Yes, in that subject. A-levels are linear, so every written paper is sat again in the same series. You only resit the subjects you choose to.
The short version
- Only one series: 10 May to 22 June 2027, with results on 12 August.
- The board deadline is 21 February. Your centre’s deadline is probably earlier.
- Find a centre this term, and ask about NEA on the first call.
- Do not book 23 June.
Not sure which route fits, or whether a retake is the right move? Tell us about your situation and we will talk it through.
The dates above are from the JCQ key dates document for the June 2027 series. Late fee rules are from Pearson’s key dates for 2026 to 2027 (opens in a new tab), and the rules on coursework from AQA’s private candidate guidance (opens in a new tab).