Centres and candidates sometimes think a ‘retake’ is simply when the candidate sits a subject again. However, we have a specific definition of a ‘retake’ entry, and It is important to understand this definition.
Understanding what a retake entry is means your centre(s) works to the correct entry deadline and we do not charge you late entry fees unnecessarily.
If a candidate is entered in the November series for the same syllabus they had entered in the preceding June series (regardless of the entry options selected in each series), their November entry qualifies as a retake entry. This would include situations where a candidate is sitting AS Level in June and completing their A Level in the following November series.
We provide a later deadline for retake entries so centres have time to review results from the previous series and can make informed decisions about making a retake entry in the following series. Because we do not release June series results until mid-August, we set the retake deadline for the November series as 21 September.
Centres must indicate an entry is a retake at the point of submission – you cannot change the retake indicator once you have submitted an entry. If you do not tell us an entry is a retake by ticking the retake indicator box, we will charge you late entry fees, for any entries or amendments to entries, made after the 16 August, the first-time entries deadline.
There is no way to indicate any entry is a retake in the June series as there is no need to do so. Centres do not require a later entry deadline in June because November results from the preceding year are released in January. Centres have sufficient time to make entry decisions based on their November results before the 21 February entry deadline for the June series, without incurring late entry fees.
What is a retake entry?
We define an entry as a retake when all of the following are true:
- The candidate took the same syllabus, regardless of the option code, in the exam series immediately before the one you are making the entry for
- The exam series the entry is being made for has a separate deadline for retake entries
- You tell us the entry is a retake, when you first submit the entry to us, by ticking the ‘retake’ box next to the entry. You cannot do this at a later date.
For example:
If you enter a candidate for the same syllabus in the November series as they had entered in the June series of the same year (regardless of the entry options selected) the November entry qualifies as a retake. You would need to tick the retake entry box when you make the entry and work towards our retake entry deadline for the November series.
This includes where candidates sit their AS Level exams in June and complete the A Level in November.
Because candidate do not receive their June results until a few days before the final entry deadline for November series entries, we set a later deadline for retake entries so schools and candidates can make retake decisions based on their June results.
You must tick the ‘retake’ box for all syllabus entries at the point of submission on Direct for them to qualify as a retake. You cannot add this retrospectively after you have submitted the entry.
If you do not tick the retake indicator when you submit the original entry to us, and the first-time entries deadline has passed, the system will automatically apply late entry fees to the entry and any amendments to the entry.
