Possible Gains from a Year Out

A year out could:

Give you a break from academic study.
Give you time to think through your future education or career plans if you’re not sure what to do.
Help to improve your confidence or broaden your mind. You may want to experience different cultures and nationalities or improve your language skills.
Allow you time to strengthen your application to higher education. For example, you could retake any necessary entry qualifications.
Give you opportunities for paid or voluntary work experience that could improve your employability skills and future job prospects.
Give you time to do extended work experience. This may be a requirement for your planned higher education course e.g. agricultural courses often require a year of related work experience.
Boost your finances by giving you time to work and earn some money to finance your course.

Possible Losses

Raise the entry requirements for your chosen course if you retake your subjects (re-sit offers are often higher than first time offers).
Result in difficulties and frustrations when re-adjusting to academic work/life.
Be dependent on the local economy, if you are looking for a job close to home. You may only have the option to earn money in an unskilled job, which could be repetitive and boring.
Make you poorer if you are planning a year out with cost implications e.g. travelling.