Praxis 5331 Retake Statistics: How Many People Pass on the Second Try?

Failing the Praxis 5331 can feel isolating, but the data tells a different story: retakes are common, and the vast majority of candidates who retake eventually pass. Understanding the statistics can help you make a calm, rational plan instead of a panic-driven one.

What ETS publishes about pass rates

ETS publishes national pass rates for the Praxis 5331, and they are generally high — often in the 80–90% range for first-time test takers who completed a graduate program. However, the published rate is a snapshot of all candidates, not just those from SLP graduate programs. It also does not capture the full story of how many people pass on a second or third attempt.

What we know about retake pass rates

ETS does not publish a specific "retake pass rate" for the Praxis 5331, but the broader Praxis literature and state board reporting patterns suggest a consistent trend:

• Most retakers improve. Candidates who change their study approach, use a structured plan, and address their weak area typically score higher on attempt two.
• Short retake gaps are common. Many candidates retake within 4–8 weeks, which keeps the content fresh.
• Multiple attempts are not career-limiting. State boards and ASHA accept your highest passing score. Your CCC-SLP certificate does not show how many attempts you took.

Why the first attempt pass rate is misleading

The first-time pass rate looks reassuring, but it hides several factors that affect individual candidates:

• Program differences. Some graduate programs integrate Praxis prep heavily; others do not. Candidates from lighter-prep programs are not represented separately.
• Timing. Students who take the exam during or immediately after a busy semester may underperform compared to those who wait until after graduation.
• Test anxiety and life stress. These are not random. They affect a meaningful subset of candidates and are not reflected in a national average.

The most important statistic: pass rate on the second attempt

Anecdotal reports from SLP programs, tutoring services, and online candidate communities suggest that candidates who use a structured retake plan — focused on their weak content area, full-length timed practice, and anxiety management — pass at a high rate on attempt two. The key variable is not innate ability. It is whether the second attempt is prepared differently than the first.

What this means for your timeline

A failed first attempt usually adds 6–10 weeks to your overall licensure timeline:

• 28-day ETS waiting period.
• 2–4 weeks of targeted retake study.
• 2–3 weeks for the new score report to post.

For most candidates, that delay is manageable. The bigger risk is rushing the retake and failing again, which doubles the cost and extends the timeline further.

Take the data seriously, not personally

A failed first attempt is a data point, not a verdict. Use it to identify the gap, then close it with a focused plan. Our retake study plan is built around the patterns that reliably move scores on the second attempt.