A guide to resitting university exams

Sometimes exams simply don’t go your way no matter how much you’ve prepared. If you find yourself in a position where you’ve failed a university exam, all is not lost. You do have options. Most universities will allow you to resit exams and assessments at a later date, meaning you can still pass on your next try.

Can you resit university exams? 

If you fail an assessment at university, you will usually be offered the opportunity to resit the exam. Usually, you can’t resit your university exams unless you fail them completely so it’s important to try your hardest the first time around. 

Typically, your department or school will contact you to notify you that you’ve failed the assessment and organise your resit. You’ll then be told the date and time of the exam resit.  

When are university exam resits? 

University resits usually take place from mid-August to mid-September, during the summer break between academic years. If you go home for the summer, you may have to return to resit your exam. 

What if you have extenuating circumstances?

Extenuating circumstances are events outside of your control which could affect your performance in assessments. These might include illness, injury or bereavement. If you’re unsure if something would count as an extenuating circumstance, get in touch with your department or personal tutor. 

Students with accepted extenuating circumstances are usually offered deferred assessments without any penalty to their grade. If you have to retake an exam due to extenuating circumstances, it shouldn’t count as an official resit. 

You should let the university know about any extenuating circumstances either in advance or as close to the exam as possible. You may need to submit supporting evidence such as a doctor’s note. You can submit this retroactively after the exam if you need to. 

Are there fees for university resits?

Depending on your university, you might be charged a fee if you want to resit your exams. If applicable, you should be informed about this when you are told the details of your resit. If you are unsure or have any questions about how to pay, get in touch with your university directly. 

Are university resits capped?

Often, university resits are capped at the pass mark of 40, even if you actually achieve a higher grade. This acts as a penalty for not passing the assessment the first time. This is not always the case, so speak to your department to find out the process for your specific exam. 

What happens if you fail a resit exam at university?

If a module is compulsory, you will need to pass it to progress with your degree or graduate. If the module is elective, you might be able to pass the year or graduate as long as you have achieved enough credits overall. To establish this, you will need to speak to your department and your personal tutor. 

How many resits are allowed at university?

Some universities allow you to take a resit more than once, but usually they will cap the amount of times you can resit one assessment at three times. However, some universities will only allow you to retake an assessment once. It will all depend on your particular institution, degree, and module choice. 



How to prepare for your university resits

You can prepare for resits in much the same way you would prepare for your original exam. Discover the exam format, whip out your favourite revision techniques, and try and do past papers. If you need help preparing, check out our five best revision tips for university. 

We’ve also answered some of the most frequently asked questions students have in the lead up to university exams.