What Happens If You Fail the G1 Test in Ontario

Failing the G1 feels bigger than it is. If you do fail the G1 test, you do not lose anything except the day, and you can book another attempt and try again. Knowing how the test is scored and what the rewrite involves takes most of the worry out of it, so here is exactly what happens and how to pass the next time.

How the G1 test is scored

The G1 knowledge test has two sections: 20 questions on road signs and 20 on the rules of the road. You need at least 80 percent on each section, which means 16 correct out of 20, and you have to clear both. If you pass one section but not the other, you still have to write the test again, so it is worth being solid on signs and rules alike. The full run of the day is covered in how the G1 test day works.

Can you rewrite it

Yes. Failing the test does not put a mark against you and there is no long penalty period. You book another attempt at a DriveTest centre and sit the knowledge test again. Each rewrite has its own fee, because the price you paid at the start covers only your first attempt, so check the current amount with DriveTest when you rebook. Bring the same identification you brought the first time. There is no limit on how many times you can attempt it, so a fail today does not close any door on the licence you are working toward.

Why people fail the G1 test the first time

Most first-time failures come down to the signs section and to guessing on rules the person never actually studied. The questions are drawn straight from the official handbook, so gaps show up fast. Going over the common mistakes that fail the G1 test before you rebook will tell you where to spend your study time.

How to pass the rewrite

Treat the retry as a short, focused study job rather than a fresh start. Work through practice questions until you are scoring well above 80 percent on both sections, and pay special attention to the signs, since that is where most people lose the marks. Read each question fully before you answer, because the test likes to offer one answer that is close but wrong. Walk in rested, take your time, and the second attempt is usually much calmer than the first.

Keep it in perspective

Plenty of good drivers do not pass on the first try, and it has no effect on the licence you end up with. The G1 is a knowledge check, not a judgment of whether you can drive, and a rewrite simply gives you another chance to show you know the rules. Study the parts you missed, rebook, and go back in expecting to pass.

Keep reading: how to study for the G1 in one week and the complete guide to the G1 test.

Based on the Official MTO Driver’s Handbook and Ontario’s G1 knowledge test rules. Last reviewed July 2026.