Short Answer
Sometimes. Each test purchase gives you one credit, and each credit allows up to 3 attempts to produce one certified result — so if your first attempt fails for a reason outside your control, you may still have free attempts remaining on that same credit.
When a Retake Is Free (Same Credit)
- A technical error interrupted your test before you could complete or submit it
- Your result wasn't certified due to a minor rule violation and you still have attempts remaining on your credit
In these cases, you don't need to buy a new test — you use one of the remaining attempts tied to your existing credit.
When You'll Need to Pay Again
- You've already used all 3 attempts on your current credit
- Your credit has expired (21 days from purchase)
- You simply want to try again after receiving a certified result you're not happy with
How This Differs From the Monthly Purchase Limit
This is a separate rule from how often you're allowed to buy new tests. You can purchase up to 3 test credits within any rolling 30-day period — see our full guide on retake limits for how that count works. This page is specifically about whether an individual attempt costs you a new purchase or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an invalidated attempt use up one of my three chances?
Yes — starting the test counts as an attempt, whether or not it ends up certified.
Can institutions tell how many times I retook the test?
No. You choose which certified score to send, and schools only see that result, not your full history of attempts.