If you fail the SAAQ knowledge test, you can retake it: after a minimum wait of 28 days, you book a new appointment and redo only the section or sections you failed — at the same fee as a first attempt.
The rule has no exceptions, but it has a counterpart: you never retake the whole test. It’s frustrating — and four well-used weeks are more than enough to turn the situation around.
Why you fail “a section”
The test isn’t marked on an average. Its format — 28 questions · 3 sections · 75% each — means each section is passed on its own. You can answer well almost everywhere and still fail, because one single section stayed below the threshold. That trap is explained in detail on the passing-score page.
What the rule means, concretely
- The wait is mandatory. At least 28 daysbetween the fail and the retake, with no way to shorten it.
- Only the failed sections are retaken. The sections you passed stay passed — you are not starting over from zero.
- The retake is booked like any attempt, by appointment with the SAAQ, and costs $13.50 again. Check the current fee when you book.
- The threshold doesn’t change. The retaken section is judged as the first time: 75% within the section, on its own.
What you keep, what you retake
A fail doesn’t reset everything. The sections you passed are yours: the retake covers only what was missing, and is judged at the same threshold. The place and the procedure don’t change either — an SAAQ service centre, on a computer, by appointment. What changes is you: you now know which section fell short, and that is a real advantage for what comes next. Retaking the test, section by section lays out each step.
Failing is more common than you’d think
Every year, thousands of candidates fail the SAAQ knowledge test. A fail says nothing about your ability as a driver — it usually signals preparation spread unevenly across the sections, or done in a format that didn’t resemble the test. Both are fixable.
Newcomers exchanging a foreign licence are particularly exposed: years of driving don’t replace knowing Québec’s own rules, and the test has to be prepared — even by an experienced driver. The test seen from a licence exchange covers that in more depth.
How to use the 28 days
Target. Redoing all the material is the worst strategy: the failed section is what decides the retake, and the failed section is what needs the work.
Understand every mistake. Rereading doesn’t fix what made you fail: you need to know why each wrong answer was wrong, and see those questions again until they’re mastered.
Measure yourself against the real format before going back. A practice test faithful to the exam, with a verdict per section, tells you whether you’re back over the threshold — with room to spare, not barely. The full retake process, from booking to test day, is laid out on the retake page.
Frequently asked questions
If I fail the knowledge test, can I retake it?
Yes. You book a new appointment with the SAAQ, for a date after the 28 days wait, and retake only the section or sections you failed — the sections you passed stay passed. The full process is on the retake page.
Do I have to retake the whole test after failing?
No. You only retake the section or sections you failed — the sections you passed stay passed. That is the logic of the per-section retake.
Can the 28-day wait be shortened?
No — the wait is mandatory, whichever section you failed. The best answer to the delay is to use it: four weeks of preparation aimed squarely at what was missing.
Do I need a new appointment after failing?
Yes. The retake isn’t automatic: you book a new appointment with the SAAQ, for a date after the 28 days wait, as for a first attempt.
How much does the retake cost?
The same as any attempt: $13.50, paid to the SAAQ. Check the current fee when you book.
What if I failed two sections?
The principle stays the same: both sections have to be retaken, after the same wait of 28 days — and the section you passed stays passed.
Why do you fail a single section?
Because the test isn’t marked on an average: each section is judged on its own, at 75%. An excellent result on road rules never makes up for a signs section below the threshold. The passing score explains that trap in detail.
What should I do during the 28 days?
Target the failed section, understand every mistake rather than reread, then measure yourself in the real format until you clear the threshold with room to spare. Redoing all the material is the worst strategy: it dilutes the effort where it shouldn’t be diluted.
Go further
- Retaking the test, section by section
- The passing score: why the average doesn’t count
- The road test: what comes after the knowledge test
- The complete guide to the knowledge test
- The Permis 101 FAQ
Official sources
The facts on this page come from the official pages of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
- Knowledge tests – passenger vehicle (Class 5)
- Competency examination policy PO-PM 05 (PDF, French)
- Fees for knowledge and road tests
Permis 101 has a path built for the retake: tell it which section you failed, and the app concentrates your practice there — and tells you when you’re back over the threshold, with room to spare.
Free to start · $19.99 CAD once · No subscription
Permis 101 is an independent app, not affiliated with the SAAQ. For official information and to book your test, go to the SAAQ.