Resit: What You Need to Know About Retaking Exams and Courses

When you fail a course or exam, a resit, a second chance to pass an exam or course after failing the first attempt isn’t the end—it’s just a detour. Many students think a resit means they’ve fallen behind, but it’s actually a normal part of learning. Schools and universities offer resits because they know not everyone performs at their best the first time. Stress, illness, personal issues, or even bad timing can mess up even the best-prepared students. The system is built to give you another shot, not to punish you.

A resit, a second chance to pass an exam or course after failing the first attempt usually follows a set timeline—often a few weeks or months after the original exam. It’s not the same test. You won’t get the same questions, but you’ll still be tested on the same material. Some institutions cap the maximum mark you can get on a resit, so even if you ace it, your final grade might be capped at 40% or 50%. That’s not to discourage you—it’s to make sure you’ve truly learned the content, not just memorized answers for a second try.

What really matters is how you use the time between your first attempt and the resit. Just re-reading notes won’t cut it. You need to find where you went wrong. Was it the exam format? Did you run out of time? Did you misunderstand the questions? Talk to your lecturer. Ask for feedback. Look at past papers. Practice under timed conditions. A study strategy, a planned approach to learning that improves retention and exam performance tailored to your weak spots makes all the difference. Some students benefit from study groups, others from one-on-one tutoring. There’s no single right way—just the way that works for you.

And don’t ignore the emotional side. Failing stings. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who messed up. But you’re not. Thousands of students take resits every year. What separates those who pass the second time from those who don’t isn’t talent—it’s persistence. You’ve already shown you care enough to come back. That’s more than most people do.

Resits aren’t just about exams. They apply to coursework, practical assessments, even professional certifications. Whether you’re a university student in Cape Town, a trainee electrician in Johannesburg, or someone retaking a licensing test, the process is the same: learn from the first try, adjust your approach, and go in with a plan. The system doesn’t expect perfection on the first try. It expects you to keep trying.

Below, you’ll find real stories and updates from students, educators, and institutions dealing with academic setbacks—some with resits, others with the systems that support them. You’ll see how people turned failures into comebacks, how policies changed to help more students succeed, and what’s actually happening behind the scenes in classrooms and exam halls across South Africa. This isn’t just about passing a test. It’s about getting back on track.