Show WorkingRevision guideResits
Resitting GCSE maths? You can do this.
Lots of people don't get a grade 4 first time, and lots of them get it the second time. The trick is not to start again from page one. Find the marks you lost, fix those, and practise a little every day until the exam.
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01 / When you can resitSummer and November
Two chances every year
- Summer. GCSE maths exams run every May and June, for everyone.
- November. You can also sit GCSE maths in November if you're 16 or older on 31 August that year. Entry deadlines are usually early in the autumn term.
- Where. Usually through your college or sixth form. Adults and private candidates enter through an exam centre that accepts them, and there's normally a fee.
- The formulae sheet. GCSE maths exams in 2026 and 2027, including the November resits, come with one. What's worth knowing anyway.
02 / Aged 16 to 18England
If you're at college or sixth form
In England, if you don't have a grade 4 in maths by 16, you'll usually keep studying maths alongside your main course.
- With a grade 3, that normally means taking the GCSE again.
- With a grade 2 or below, it can be a Functional Skills qualification first.
- It carries on until you get a grade 4, or leave 16 to 19 education.
The rules are set for colleges by the Department for Education and can change, so your college will tell you exactly which course and exam you're on.
03 / A plan for resitsSecond time, smarter
Don't start again. Start where you lost marks.
Find out what went wrong
Ask your teacher which paper or topics let you down. Was it the non-calculator paper? Algebra? Running out of time?
Start with the nearly-there topics
A topic you get half right is the quickest to turn into marks. Use the topics checklist to spot them.
Ten minutes, most days
Resits are often alongside a full course or a job. Short, regular practice fits in and sticks better than cramming.
Learn from every mistake
When you get one wrong, follow the working step by step and find the exact line you missed. Then try a fresh one.
Practise without a calculator
One of the three papers (for AQA, Pearson Edexcel and OCR) is non-calculator, so keep your written methods sharp.
Timed papers in the last month
Do past papers under exam rules and fix what they show. See how to pass GCSE maths for where the marks are.
04 / AdultsIt's never too late
Resitting GCSE maths as an adult
Plenty of adults go back for a grade 4, for a course, a job or just for themselves. In England, adults without a grade 4 can usually study GCSE maths for free at a local college, or you can enter as a private candidate through an exam centre.
Show Working works just as well at 35 as at 15. There's no account, nothing to sign up for, and nobody sees your progress but you.
05 / Practise itiPhone and iPad
Short practice that fits around everything else
Ten fresh questions at a time, marked straight away, with hints when you're stuck and the full working when you need it. Timed mocks under exam rules when the exam gets close.
Coming soon to the App Store
06 / QuestionsAll questions
Resits, answered
What grade is a pass in GCSE maths?
A grade 4 is a standard pass and a grade 5 is a strong pass. Most colleges, sixth forms and employers ask for at least a 4, though some courses want a 5 or more.
What happens if I don’t pass GCSE maths?
In England, if you don’t have a grade 4 by 16, you’ll usually keep studying maths at college or sixth form alongside your main course. With a grade 3 that normally means taking the GCSE again. With a lower grade it can be a Functional Skills qualification first. Your college will tell you which.
Can I resit GCSE maths in November?
Yes, if you’re 16 or older on 31 August that year. November resits are run for GCSE maths and English Language. Ask your college or a local exam centre about entry deadlines, which are usually in early autumn.
How many times can I resit GCSE maths?
There’s no limit. You can keep taking it until you get the grade you need.
Is the resit easier than the summer exam?
No. It’s the same GCSE with the same grades. Grade boundaries are set for each exam series, but the standard is meant to stay the same.
Can adults resit GCSE maths?
Yes. Many colleges run GCSE maths courses for adults, and in England adults without a grade 4 can usually study it for free. You can also enter as a private candidate through an exam centre that accepts them, for a fee.
Second time, smarter.
Get your grade 4 this time.
Fresh questions with the working shown, ten minutes at a time. The first topic is free.
Coming soon to the App Store