Does Retaking a Subject at University Have Any Effect? Answers from A–Z

When do students need to retake a subject?

Retaking a subject is not a rare thing in the university environment. To understand this issue better, students need to grasp the cases of compulsory or voluntary registration to retake a subject.

The subject grade does not meet the requirement

Students must retake a subject if the summary grade is below 4.0 on the 10-point scale or below D on the letter-grade scale, because it does not meet the minimum requirement to pass the subject. For example, if a subject only reaches 3.5 points, the student is required to register to retake it. In addition, according to Circular 08/2021/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training, the case of an F grade due to violating the exam regulations must also retake the entire subject.

Besides, many students proactively retake even after passing to improve the grade from the pass level (4.0–5.4) to good or excellent. This helps raise the cumulative grade point average (GPA), thereby increasing the chance of scholarship consideration, graduating with good/excellent classification or registering for advanced study programmes.

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Absent for more than the allowed number of sessions

The regulation on absence rate is one of the important criteria deciding whether you may take the exam or not. According to the training regulations of most universities, students who are absent for more than 20% of the total sessions without a legitimate reason will not be allowed to take the exam and automatically have to retake that subject.

If a subject has 45 periods, students can be absent for a maximum of 9 periods (20%). Exceeding this level, they will not be allowed to take the end-of-term exam and receive an I or F grade, being forced to retake. Statistics at some universities in HCMC show that about 5–7% of students each semester fall into this case, mainly in early-morning or late-afternoon classes.

Wanting to raise the average grade

Many students choose to retake a subject although they have passed in order to improve the cumulative grade point average (GPA). This is a student’s right according to the regulations at most universities. Students can register to retake subjects with grades from 4.0 to below 7.0 to improve their study achievement.

Raising the GPA is especially important for students who want to be considered for scholarships, the excellent-student title or who plan to study abroad. For example, a student with a GPA of 2.8 wanting to reach 3.2 to qualify for a study-encouragement scholarship can choose to retake the 2-3 lowest-scoring subjects to improve. However, students need to consider carefully because this requires time, effort and additional tuition costs.

Regulations on retaking subjects that university students should clearly grasp

To be proactive in planning studies, students need to clearly understand the specific regulations on retaking subjects at the school they are attending.

The number of times allowed to retake

According to the general regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training stated in Circular 08/2021/TT-BGDĐT, each university has the autonomy to regulate the maximum number of retakes for each subject. However, a survey from universities across the country shows that the average number of retakes allowed is a maximum of 2 times.

Each university has its own regulation on the number of retakes, but in general students are usually allowed to retake each subject a maximum of about 2 times. If they still do not meet the requirement after this number, students may have to register for an equivalent replacement subject or be reviewed for effects on study progress and graduation conditions. Therefore, clearly grasping the training regulations of HUFLIT is necessary to proactively build a suitable study path.

Grade calculation after retaking

How the grade is calculated after retaking a subject is an issue many students care about. According to the general regulation, the grade recorded on the official transcript is the highest grade among the student’s study attempts. This means that if you scored 3.5 the first time and 7.0 the second time, the 7.0 grade will be counted into the GPA and recorded on the graduation transcript.

For example, student A studies General Physics (3 credits) the first time and gets 4.5 points, then retakes and gets 7.5 points, so the GPA will be calculated at 7.5, equivalent to (140 − 4.5 + 7.5) / 20 = 7.15. However, the detailed transcript still displays both study attempts and some schools may limit the maximum grade recognised, so students need to carefully learn their school’s regulation.

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Does retaking a subject at university have any effect?

This is the most important question that students need a clear answer to. Retaking a subject has certain effects, however not all of them are negative as many people worry.

No effect on the graduation degree

Retaking a subject does not affect the granting of the graduation degree, as long as the student completes enough credits according to the training programme and achieves the average grade as regulated. Retaking also helps students improve knowledge and raise the GPA if they achieve better results.

On the graduation transcript, only the final grade of each subject is recorded, not clearly stating which subject was retaken. Therefore, students can be completely assured that retaking a subject does not affect the value of the university degree.

Effect on the average grade

The cumulative grade point average (GPA) is directly affected by retaking a subject, and this can be a positive or negative impact depending on the study result. If students retake and improve their grade, the GPA will increase considerably. Conversely, if the retake grade is lower or does not improve much, the GPA still stays low.

At many universities, when a student retakes a subject and achieves a higher grade, the new grade will replace the old grade in GPA calculation, helping raise the overall average. However, the initial grade still still appears on the transcript with a “repeated” note, so students need to consider carefully before retaking to optimise the GPA.

Effect on scholarship or title consideration

At HUFLIT, having a retaken subject directly impacts the ability to be considered for scholarships and the student title. According to the regulation, the scholarship-consideration grade is only based on the end-of-course-module exam result in the first study attempt of each semester, and at the same time students must not fail a subject or owe a subject in that academic year. Therefore, if a retaken subject arises, students will not be eligible for scholarship consideration in the corresponding year.

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Advice for students when having to retake a subject at university

When facing having to retake a subject, students need the right strategy and attitude to make the most of this opportunity to improve study results.

Identify the cause and make a clear study plan 

When having to retake a subject, students should spend time analysing the cause of the unsatisfactory result, which may be due to not firmly grasping the foundational knowledge, an unsuitable study method or objective factors such as health, work. From there, build a specific study plan with a regular revision schedule, breaking the content into each week to easily track progress and improve absorption effectiveness.

Proactively exchange with lecturers for support 

Students should boldly contact the lecturer in charge of the subject to ask for advice on the key knowledge, revision method and how to do the exam effectively. Exchanging via email, consultation hours or tutoring sessions not only helps understand the lesson more deeply but also shows a progressive, serious spirit in studying.

Balance between studying and other activities 

In a semester with a retaken subject, students should reduce extracurricular activities or the number of registered credits to avoid overload. Arranging time reasonably, combined with a healthy lifestyle such as getting enough sleep, eating moderately and exercising regularly, will help maintain energy, thereby improving study effectiveness and improving the subject result.

FAQs – Frequently asked questions about whether retaking a subject at university has any effect

Does retaking a subject slow down the graduation time?

Retaking a subject can slow down the graduation time, but it does not always happen. If it is a prerequisite subject or one only opened in a fixed term, students may have to wait to retake and affect the progress. Conversely, with an elective subject or a subject opened regularly, students can make it up in the summer semester. Therefore, graduating late also depends on the type of subject and the personal study plan.

Do you have to pay additional tuition for retaking a subject?

Yes. Students have to pay tuition for the retaken subject according to the number of registered credits, at a rate regulated by each school. Usually, the retake tuition is equivalent to the tuition of a normal subject, ranging from 200,000 VND – 500,000 VND per credit depending on the school and discipline. Some schools apply a higher rate for retaking from the 2nd time onward to encourage students to study seriously from the first time.

When should students register to retake a subject?

Students should register to retake as soon as the school opens the class, especially prioritising prerequisite subjects so as not to affect study progress. The registration time is usually announced about 2–4 weeks before each semester, so you need to follow information from the Training Office. For foundational or important subjects, retake as early as possible to facilitate the following course modules.

Does retaking a subject at university have any effect? The answer is yes, but these impacts can be completely controlled if students have a suitable study plan. Retaking does not lose the value of the graduation degree but can affect the GPA, scholarships and study progress if lacking strategy. With the support from HUFLIT and a serious attitude, students can completely turn difficulty into an opportunity to improve study results.

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