Can You Resit GCSEs? Rules, Dates and Your Best Options (2026)

The quick answer

Yes, you can resit GCSEs. The main routes are:

Summer resits (the next summer exam series, for most subjects)
November resits (typically English Language and Maths in England, with eligibility rules)

GCSE resits in November: the key rule (England)

In England, GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths are routinely available in November, but since 2017 entry has usually been limited to students who are aged 16 or above on 31 August of that year (with some exceptions such as certain reasonable adjustments).

Source: GOV.UK

That means:

If you are resitting in November, you normally need to meet the age rule.
Your school/college can confirm eligibility and enter you correctly.

What about resitting other subjects?

Most other GCSE subjects are usually resat in the summer series. If you want to resit a subject outside your school, you may be able to do it as a private candidate at an exam centre (fees apply, and availability depends on the subject and centre).

Do you have to resit GCSE English and Maths?

In England, many students who do not achieve a standard pass in English and maths are expected to continue studying them post-16, and resits are common. Policies can vary by provider and funding rules, so your sixth form/college will tell you what applies.

Is it worth resitting?

Here's the honest answer: it depends on your goal.

Resitting is worth it if:

You need a grade 4 or higher for a course/apprenticeship/job
You were close to the next grade and can realistically improve
You have a structured plan (support + practice papers)

Resitting might not be the best route if:

You are far from the target grade and would benefit from a different pathway (Functional Skills or a course with embedded maths/English support, where available)

What if you think your paper was marked unfairly?

You may have post-results options via your school/centre, such as:

Access to scripts (seeing the paper)
Review of marking (a remark process)

Your school exams officer will explain costs, deadlines and whether it's worth requesting.

Preparing for your resit?

Browse our collection of free GCSE past papers to help you prepare. Practice with real exam questions from AQA, Edexcel, and OCR.

Maths Papers English Language Papers GCSE Dates 2026