What Happens If You Fail Your Arkansas Permit Test?
Last updated 2026-08-03
The pass line: 20 of 25, no partial credit
Arkansas's knowledge exam is 25 multiple-choice questions, and passing requires 20 correct -- 80%. That means up to 5 wrong answers is the ceiling; a 6th miss means a failed attempt, regardless of how strong the rest of the exam was.
The exam draws from the study guide's own content, so a failed attempt is almost always a preparation gap -- reviewing the specific chapters that cover Arkansas-specific law (the Introduction's graduated licenses, Chapter 1's seat belt/Move Over/school bus rules, and Chapter 8's alcohol law) is the direct fix.
A real accommodation exists for learning differences
Arkansas offers a distinct "Driver's License Test for Learning Differences" appointment type, which schedules an oral test with an examiner instead of the standard written format. This is a genuine alternative, not an informal workaround -- though the study guide notes not every testing location offers this feature.
Requesting this accommodation before a first attempt, rather than discovering after a failed one that it exists, avoids the cost (in time and any retest logistics) of an avoidable first-attempt failure caused by test format rather than knowledge gaps.
What the study guide does and doesn't say about retesting
The Arkansas Driver License Study Guide doesn't publish a fixed wait period or a specific retest fee for a failed knowledge exam. That's a real gap in what this particular booklet documents -- it doesn't mean Arkansas has no retest policy, just that the study guide itself doesn't spell out the mechanics of trying again.
Given that gap, the reliable move is confirming current retest procedures directly with an Arkansas Revenue Office or the Arkansas State Police before assuming a specific wait period or fee applies.
A failed skills test is a separate, later event
The driving skills test can only be scheduled after an applicant already holds an Instruction Permit, and it's evaluated separately from the knowledge exam. Chapter 10's pre-test vehicle inspection checklist (seats, mirrors, brakes, lights, tires, steering) is worth reviewing beforehand, since a vehicle issue can affect the outcome independent of driving skill.
Because the skills test appointment type is distinct from the knowledge-exam appointment (per the study guide's own appointment-type definitions), scheduling the correct one matters -- showing up for the wrong appointment type risks a wasted trip rather than a completed test.
Using a failed attempt productively
This site's own Arkansas practice test models the same 25-question, 80%-passing format the real knowledge exam uses, which makes it a reasonable way to gauge readiness before booking (or re-booking) an appointment at telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills.
Because the study guide's content maps closely onto the exam, a focused re-read of the specific chapters covering signs, right-of-way, and Arkansas-specific law -- rather than the entire 99-page guide cover to cover -- is often the most efficient way to close the gap that caused a first-attempt failure.
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More Arkansas Guides
- How Long Does an Arkansas Permit Last?
- Understanding Arkansas's Graduated Driver Licensing
- What to Bring to Your Arkansas Permit Test
- Do You Need Driver's Ed in Arkansas?
Rules and requirements change — always confirm current details with Arkansas DPS before your exam. Check the full guides index or the Arkansas cheat sheet and FAQ, or take a free Arkansas practice test.