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Resits

A resit is an opportunity to retake a piece of coursework or an exam if you haven’t achieved the required pass mark for the module. When you resit an assessment, the mark you can get is usually capped. You will normally be told if you need to resit an assessment and have a chance to get feedback and support to help you pass.

If you are facing a resit, do get in touch with us for advice on how to ensure the process goes well. We can help in many different ways including time management, interpreting assignment briefs, planning, finding your critical voice, developing your academic writing style or making the most of your reading time.


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A learning opportunity

It is natural to feel disappointed if you have to resit an assessment. After giving yourself some time to process these feelings, it can help to see this chance to try again as part of the learning process. Watch our video on how to use your resit as an opportunity to develop your skills and understanding:

Look at feedback

Your feedback gives essential information about what you need to do to succeed in your resit. Go through your feedback and note down your key areas to work on. See our guide for more on making the most of your feedback:

Feedback resources (Centre for Academic Development)

Check the criteria

A common reason for needing to resit an assessment is not answering the question or not fulfilling the criteria. Go back to the assessment brief and criteria to ensure that you understand all parts of it fully. If you have tried to understand it but still aren’t sure, ask your lecturer for help.

More exam practice?

If you feel you didn’t do well in your exams, it could be because of lack of practice. Revising the content of your module is important, but it is also important to become used to applying your knowledge under exam conditions. Doing timed papers, practice questions, or essay plans as part of your revision can reduce anxiety and help you perform better in the resit exam. See our guide to exams for more on how to prepare well:

Exam resources (Centre for Academic Development)

Make an action plan

If you feel overwhelmed or unsure how to start on your resit, it helps to identify one or two specific things that you will do differently this time. Making an action plan gives you a structure and some practical things to do next. See this template for an action plan:

Resit action plan template

Build in time for resits

Look ahead at all your deadlines and adjust your schedule to take any resit into account. You are likely to have other coursework, so spending ages perfecting your resit may not be the best use of your time. However, you want to give yourself enough time to address the feedback and get any help you need. See our guide to time management for more on how to plan effectively:

Time management resources (Centre for Academic Development)

Keep looking ahead to your goal

It can feel demotivating to be resitting an assessment, but you are not alone, and your lecturers and many other people at the University want you to succeed. Keep looking forwards toward your ultimate goal and the things you can do to get there.