Up and down the country, pupils are preparing to sit their first mock GCSE exams of the year but under the new GCSE system they’ll be sitting their exams in one go in the 2018 summer term. With increasing pressure and a tougher grading system in place for even more GCSEs this year, it’s likely that some pupils are going to miss the mark a little and be left considering resitting the exams.

But if you don’t quite get the grades you expected, is it worth resitting?

The new GCSEs have also changed the way you resit exams so, in most cases, you’ll have to wait almost a full year of classes before you can redo your test in the hopes of boosting your grade up. The timeframe could mean that many people are put off going through the stress of exams again. However, there are some occasions when it’s worth the time and effort.

Under the old grading system, colleges, apprenticeships, and jobs, would typically ask for five A*-C grades, including maths and English, on applications. The new numerical grades mean there’s some discrepancy around what’s being accepted as a ‘good’ standard. The old C grade can be either a 4 or 5, so if you’re around these marks, resitting to pick up some extra points could open more opportunities in the future.

Of course, if you already know what you need to achieve to follow your plans, you’re in a better position to know exactly whether resitting is worth it for you personally. However, if you’ve just missed the grades you wanted by a few points, some organisation will still accept your, recognising that there’s been a transition period, so you might not have to resit at all.

If you decide to go ahead with resitting one or more of your GCSE exams, there are some steps you should take to improve the outcomes:

  • Practice test papers – You’ll be in a better position resitting, having already gone through the GCSE exam experience. But further build on that by working through past papers, including those for English and maths available on School Exams.
  • Identify key areas to focus – Revising a full syllabus can be a daunting prospect. Instead find the key areas that you need to improve to obtain those extra marks. You’ll have a better focus and it won’t seem like an impossible task.
  • Attend revision classes – We know that revision classes can seem like a chore but they’re essential for giving you the best chance to succeed. It can be just what you need to refresh your memory.