If you've just seen a failing score: this happens to many people, even those who have been in the industry for years. This article answers the three questions you need to know right now.

CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Exam Voucher with Exam Insurance — One Free Retake

1. When can I retake the exam?

This is where there is the most misinformation online, even on large English-language sites. According to CompTIA's official retake policy:

First failure → no waiting period. CompTIA does not require a waiting period between the first and second attempts. In theory, you can schedule a retake for the very next day.

From the third attempt onwards → a minimum 14-day waiting period from the date of the most recent exam. This rule applies to all subsequent attempts.

No limit on the number of attempts. You can take the exam as many times as you want, as long as you adhere to the waiting period and pay the fee each time.

Special note: exams administered by self-proctored organizations (client-proctored — often found in school or internal corporate training environments) have different rules. If you take the exam through this channel, check with the organizing body instead of applying the above rules.

And something few people know: if you have already passed the exam, you are not allowed to retake the same exam without prior consent from CompTIA. Don't think about retaking it to get a higher score — certifications do not display scores to employers.

2. How much does a retake cost?

Frankly: the voucher you used is considered expired. Failing does not result in a refund or a discount for the next attempt. To retake the exam, you must purchase a new voucher at the full price.

This is why the total cost for someone who fails once is nearly double that of someone who passes on the first try — and it's an expense almost no one budgets for in advance.

3. How long should I wait before retaking the exam?

According to the rules, immediately. In terms of effectiveness, no.

No waiting period is a double-edged sword. Many people, in their frustration, reschedule for the very next week, study superficially, and then fail a second time — and this time they are forced to wait 14 days, plus another wasted voucher.

A reasonable timeframe is 2 to 4 weeks, provided you use it correctly:

• Failed narrowly, scattered errors across many domains → 2 weeks, focus on practice questions and test-taking skills
• Failed significantly, or weak in 1–2 domains → 4 weeks, relearn that section from scratch
• Failed due to running out of time, not completing all questions → 2 weeks, your problem is time management, not knowledge

Read the score report before doing anything else

CompTIA provides a score report for failed attempts, which includes feedback at the domain level. This is the most valuable resource you have right now — but many people glance at it and discard it because they're upset.

Sit down and answer:

Which domain is the weakest? That's where you should dedicate 60% of your review time, not evenly across all domains.