What Happens If I Fail the Texas DPS Exam
If you score below 70% (21 of 30 correct), you have not passed the final. You have a maximum of three final exam attempts. After the first or second failed attempt, review the course material and retake the final using different questions. A third failed final means you fail the course.
What You See After a Failed Attempt
After submitting, check your result. The final is structured as follows:
30 questions: 15 Highway Signs + 15 Traffic Laws
Passing score: 70% or higher (21 of 30 correct)
A maximum of three final attempts; the third failed final fails the course
How to Retake
After a first or second failure, review the course material and follow the retake instructions. The next attempt uses different questions from the categorized Highway Signs and Traffic Laws banks.
Preparing for a Retake
Before a permitted retake, review the course material and Texas Driver Handbook, including road signs, right-of-way rules, and traffic laws.
Your Lesson Progress Is Not Affected by a Failed Attempt
A failed final does not erase the lessons, participation-assessment results, or course progress already earned. That progress remains recorded. However, a third failed final means course failure.
Quick Facts
Detail | Information |
Score shown after failing | Yes — immediately |
Questions on failed retests | Different questions |
Retakes available | After the first and second failures only; maximum three attempts total |
Third failed final | Course failure |
Additional cost to retake | None |
Certificate issued | Only after passing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a limit on how many times I can take the DPS exam? You have a maximum of three final exam attempts. After the first or second failed attempt, review the course material and retake the final using different questions. A third failed final means you fail the course.
How do I prepare for a permitted retake? Review the course material and follow the retake instructions after the first or second failure.
Will the same questions appear on my retake? Failed final retests use different questions. Each attempt contains 15 Highway Signs and 15 Traffic Laws questions.
What if I keep missing the same type of question? Go back and re-read the lesson covering that topic. The Texas Driver Handbook is the source for all exam content. If a topic is giving you trouble, reviewing the relevant course lesson is the most direct way to prepare.
Does the number of attempts appear on my ADEE-1317 certificate? No. Your certificate confirms you passed the exam — the number of attempts is not reflected on the certificate.
Does the 120-day access window allow more final attempts? No. The 120-day enrollment window does not increase the three-attempt maximum. A third failed final means course failure.