Failing the G1 knowledge test feels like a bigger deal than it actually is. It is not a strike against your driving record, there is no cooling-off period the Ministry forces on you, and you do not need to start the application over. You just need to pay a small fee and try again — often the same day.
Here is exactly what happens, based on DriveTest's own fees page and FAQ — not forum guesses.
You can retest immediately — there is no mandatory waiting period
This is the detail most people assume is worse than it is. According to DriveTest's official FAQ, which directly answers "I failed my knowledge test. Do I need to book an appointment to rewrite?":
"No. Customers who are rewriting the same day do not require another appointment. Customers who are rewriting on a different day are required to book a new appointment."
In plain terms: if you fail and you are willing to pay the fee and get back in line, you can attempt the test again that same day. There is no 24-hour cooldown, no mandatory waiting period, and no rule forcing you to book a future appointment if you want to retry right away.
The fee: $16.00 per additional attempt
Your first knowledge test attempt is already covered by the Class G1 licence package fee of $159.75, which also includes your future G2 road test and your five-year licence once you complete the whole process. Per the DriveTest fees page, if you fail and need another attempt, each additional knowledge test attempt costs $16.00.
That is the full cost of a retest — you are not repaying the entire $159.75 package, just the per-attempt fee for the knowledge test itself.
Rebooking: same day vs. a different day
Rebooking works differently depending on when you come back:
- Same day — no appointment needed. Pay the $16.00 fee at the DriveTest Centre and rewrite the test.
- A different day — DriveTest's FAQ states you are required to book a new appointment.
Either way, you are going back to a DriveTest Centre in person — the knowledge test is not something you can retake online.
You only redo what you got wrong
The G1 knowledge test has two sections — road signs and rules of the road — and per DriveTest, you need a total score of at least 80% to pass. If you fail, you do not necessarily redo the whole thing.
DriveTest confirms your test results are valid for one year, and if you retry within that year, you only re-take the section(s) that did not meet MTO standards. So if you scored above 80% on rules of the road but fell short on road signs, your retest only covers road signs.
What actually causes people to fail
Failing is not a sign the test is unreasonably hard — it usually comes down to one of a few gaps:
- Not knowing exact numbers (following distances, parking distances from hydrants, school zone speed limits, demerit point values)
- Confusing similar road signs, especially warning vs. regulatory shapes
- Reading questions too fast and missing a qualifier word like "must," "except," or "not"
None of that requires a different study method — it just means the first read of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook was not enough to lock the details in.
How to make sure a retest is your last one
Since you only get charged $16.00 per extra attempt, the retest itself is not financially painful — but a second trip to a DriveTest Centre still costs you time. The fastest way to close the gap before you go back is to test yourself against the same two-section, 80%-pass-mark structure the real test uses:
If you already know which section you failed, focus your practice there. The Ontario G1 practice test app organizes 300+ questions by handbook topic and uses smart review to resurface the exact questions you keep missing, so your retest attempt targets your actual weak spot instead of material you already know cold.
Frequently asked questions
Can I retake the G1 knowledge test the same day I fail it?
Yes. Per DriveTest's official FAQ, customers rewriting the same day do not need another appointment — you can pay the $16.00 fee and try again right away. A new appointment is only required if you come back on a different day.
How much does it cost to retake the G1 knowledge test?
Each additional attempt costs $16.00, according to the DriveTest fees page. Your first attempt is already included in the $159.75 Class G1 licence package.
Do I have to retake both sections if I fail?
Not necessarily. DriveTest states that if you retry within one year, you only redo the section(s) — road signs or rules of the road — that did not meet MTO standards.
Is there a penalty for failing the G1 test?
No, as long as you did not cheat or disrupt the test room. A normal failure only costs the $16.00 retest fee. Cheating or misconduct is different — DriveTest says it results in an unsuccessful mark, loss of your test fee, and a mandatory wait until the next day to retry.
Do I need to book an appointment to retake the knowledge test?
Only if you are coming back on a different day. Same-day retests do not require booking — you can go straight back and try again.
Source
Fee amounts and retest policy are drawn directly from DriveTest, the official Ontario driver testing operator: the DriveTest fees page and the DriveTest FAQ. Handbook content comes from the Official MTO Driver's Handbook. Confirm current fees on the official site before you go, since government fee schedules can change.