Can a student retake a failed SOL test?

Yes, in many cases. Students in grades 3–12 who scored within a 'narrow margin' of passing — a scaled score of 375–399 — are generally eligible for an expedited retake before the next scheduled test administration. Students who missed passing by a wider margin may also qualify if there are documented extenuating circumstances.

Do parents have to approve an SOL retake?

Yes. For students in grades 3–8, school divisions must obtain and document affirmative parental consent before an expedited retake.

Does a student need to do anything before retaking an SOL test?

Yes — students must complete a comprehensive remediation program targeted at the specific gaps identified by their original test results before taking an expedited retake.

Can My Child Retake a Failed SOL Test? The Expedited Retake Policy Explained

A failed SOL test isn't necessarily the end of the story for that school year. Virginia has a formal expedited retake process, though it comes with real requirements — it's not automatic.

Who's eligible

Students in grades 3 through 12 who scored within a narrow margin of passing — generally a scaled score of 375 to 399 — are eligible for an expedited retake before the next regularly scheduled test administration. Students who missed passing by a wider margin can still qualify if there are documented extenuating circumstances, or if they missed the original test for a legitimate reason. The division superintendent makes the final call on what counts as "extenuating" or "legitimate" for a given case.

What has to happen first

An expedited retake isn't just a second attempt at the same test. Before it happens, two things are required:

Remediation — a comprehensive program targeted at the specific gaps the original test results identified, not general review.
Parental consent — for grades 3–8, the school division must obtain and document affirmative parental permission before the retake happens.

Why targeted remediation matters more than a second attempt

Because remediation is a required step before an expedited retake — not just a formality — the retake window is actually a real opportunity to close specific gaps rather than re-take the same test cold. That's exactly what a standard-by-standard diagnostic is for: finding precisely which SOL standards a student missed, instead of re-studying an entire subject.