In England, pupils who do not get at least a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths must continue studying for it alongside their next course, whether this is A-levels, a T-level, or something else.
Resitting is not a requirement, according to the DfE, but colleges will generally enter students into exams when they think they are ready.
GCSE English and maths resits take place in November and May or June.
Last year, nearly a quarter of maths and English GCSEs were taken by people aged 17 and older. Some will have been mature students sitting exams for the first time, but most were young people resitting papers.
A government-commissioned report in May cited research suggesting that half of 18 to 25-year-olds in England without level 2 qualifications – including GCSEs at grade 4/C and above – have spent time not in employment, education or training.
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith said in October that the DfE planned to introduce a new qualification as a “stepping stone” to GCSE resits, helping students who “too often have been on this demoralising roundabout of taking exams and failing them”.
