What if you don't pass GED Language Arts the first time?

You can retake it, and you only need to retake the subject you did not pass.^[1] If Language Arts is the one that got away, that is the one you take again. GED's own blog points out that lots of people before you did not pass the first time either.^[2] This post covers how retakes work, what they may cost, what your score report shows, and how to get ready for your next try.

It happens, and it is not the end

GED's blog says it is natural to feel disappointed, and maybe even angry, when you do not pass a subject the first time.^[2] It is fine to take a little time with that feeling. Then treat the result as information: it shows you what to work on next.

Your passed subjects stand

You do not start over. If you do not pass a subject, you can retake the subject tests you did not pass.^[1] Under GED Testing Service's policy, once you pass a subject of the current GED test, that score does not expire.^[3]

There is one thing to check. States and other testing areas may set their own rules on when subject scores expire.^[3] So look up your own state's rules, as the next section explains.

How many retakes, and when

Retake rules vary by state, and by whether you test online or at a test center.^[1] Here are GED's general rules:

• At a test center: after your first test, you can take two more retests in a subject, with no restrictions between them.^[4] If you have not passed within your first 3 attempts, you need to wait 60 days before your next attempt.^[5]
• Online: you get one retake before a 60-day waiting period.^[5]

So at a test center, that is your first test plus two retakes with no wait. After 3 tries, the wait before the next one is 60 days.

Not every place follows these general rules. In one testing area, for example, the wait before a retake is different.^[6] That area also asks for a certain GED Ready score before you retake a subject.^[6]

That is why one step matters before you book: check your own state's rules on ged.com. GED's retake FAQ sends you to your state's page to see whether you can test online where you live, and what your state's retake rules are.^[4] On GED's Price and State Rules page, you choose your area to see its testing rules and its prices.^[7]

What a retake may cost

The price of the GED test and of any retakes varies from state to state.^[4] So we cannot give you one number, and you should check your state's page for yours.^[7]

What we can tell you is how the discount works in general:

• At a test center: GED Testing Service waives its own fees for retests of a subject you did not pass.^[4] Its retake FAQ says the discount covers two retests, taken within 12 months of your first full-price test in that subject.^[4]
• Online: the discounted retake program does not apply to the online test.^[3]

Since the price and the details depend on where and how you test, your state's page is the place to find what a retake will cost you.^[7]

What your score report shows

Your score report is your study guide for the retake. In your GED account, the score report for each subject you have taken comes with a list of skills to work on.^[5] For Language Arts, it also shows your scores on the written response, the essay.^[8]

Read both closely. The skills list tells you where to focus. Your essay scores tell you whether the essay needs as much attention as the reading and grammar questions.

GED Ready: a check before you book again

On ged.com, GED Ready, GED's official practice test, costs a fee for each subject.^[9] GED's FAQ describes students taking it again toward the end of their preparation, to build confidence.^[10] Taking it near the end of your study is a way to check your progress before you book the real test again.

In at least one testing area, a certain GED Ready score is required before you can retake a subject.^[6] So check your state's rules to see whether that applies to you. To understand what GED Ready's scores mean, see our post on how many questions you can miss on GED Language Arts.

A plan for the weeks before your retake

Here is a short plan you can follow. It is our own suggestion, built on the facts above.

1. Start with the skills list. Pick two or three skills from your score report to work on first.^[5]
2. Practice those skills with questions. After each set, look for patterns in the questions you got wrong.^[11] For example, did you miss several questions about commas, or several that asked what a passage suggests? A pattern tells you what to study next.
3. Work on the essay if it needs it. Write practice essays with a timer, and get feedback on them.
4. Check your progress. Toward the end of your study, take a practice test such as GED Ready as a check.^[10]
5. Check the rules, then book. Look up your state's retake rules and price before you schedule.^[4][7]

For more on study habits, from short sessions spread over the week to quizzing yourself, see our post on how to study for the GED Language Arts test.

Start your practice now

You do not have to wait to begin. On OpenEssayMe, the free practice questions need no sign-up, and every answer comes with feedback that explains each choice, which helps you spot your own patterns. You can also write practice essays and get feedback on each of the three traits, to improve your writing before your retake. For the whole test, from timing to scoring, see our GED RLA test guide.