resit

American  

[ree-sit, ree-sit] / riˈsɪt, ˈriˌsɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

resits, present (3rd person singular) resat, past participle, past resitting present participle

1. to retake (a test or examination).

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noun

1. a test or examination that is retaken.

resit British  

verb

1. to sit (an examination) again

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noun

1. an examination taken again by a person who has not been successful in a previous attempt

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have resat
  perfect
• has resat
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is resitting
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been resitting
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are resitting
  progressive
• have been resitting
  perfect progressive
• resitting
  participle
• am resitting
  progressive 1st person singular
• resits
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had resat
  perfect
• were resitting
  progressive plural
• was resitting
  progressive singular
• resat
  participle
• resat
  simple
• had been resitting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will resit
  simple
• will have resat
  perfect
• will have been resitting
  perfect progressive
• will be resitting
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of resit

First recorded in 1925–30; re- ( def. ) + sit ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The government said offering an alternative would "break down barriers to opportunity", because white working class pupils were twice as likely to need to resit than their better-off classmates.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2025

They say an 11-mark increase of the boundary needed to pass this summer will mean more students having to resit again, adding to financial pressures on colleges.

From BBC • Aug. 29, 2024

However, it said international students had a greater choice of courses, and on foundation programmes had “more opportunities” to succeed through resit than A-level or Scottish Higher students.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2024

Over 150 students have so far signed a petition, asking the university to reconsider the resit date, which is on Friday.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024

Exams sat in November are typically resits, although students can also resit in the summer.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2024