OMPT Retakes: How Many Attempts Do You Get?

"They only allow one attempt." That sentence, from a student who scored 63% when their programme required more, is the most painful kind of OMPT surprise — because it's entirely avoidable. Attempt policies differ by university and programme, and knowing yours before you book changes how you should prepare.

The default: up to three attempts, each paid separately

For most programmes, you can take the OMPT up to three times in an admission cycle, and every attempt is a separate full test purchase (€240–270 each). A resit is only needed if your score is below your programme's requirement — passing on a second or third try is generally treated the same as passing on the first.

The exceptions that catch students out

• Some programmes accept only your first attempt — Erasmus School of Economics is the best-known example of a no-resit policy.
• VU Amsterdam allows a maximum of two attempts per admission round for several programmes.
• Other programmes cap you at three but pair it with a hard results deadline, which effectively limits how many attempts you can physically fit in.

Because policies change between intakes, always confirm the attempt limit on your specific programme's admission page — not the general OMPT site — before booking anything.

Does a retake look bad?

Students regularly ask whether passing on the second try "counts less." For admission purposes, no: universities check whether you met the required score by the deadline, not how many tries it took.

The maths of not needing a retake

Every retake costs another full fee, another proctored session, and — close to a deadline — potentially a fast-grading purchase on top. The cheapest retake is the one you never book. Before your first paid attempt, take a full-length, timed OMPT-style diagnostic mock to see whether you'd actually clear your university's pass mark today. If the answer is no, study the gap first using the topic list for your variant (see the OMPT-A syllabus or your own variant's page), then book the real test once your timed mock scores sit comfortably above the requirement. One test-taker's programme even advises not booking until practice scores are far above the pass mark — that's the right instinct.

If you've already failed an attempt

Diagnose before you rebook: was it topic gaps, timing, or the answer-entry system? Retaking with the same preparation usually produces the same score. A fresh, timed mock exam tells you whether you've actually closed the gap. Exam.ify is an independent prep company, not affiliated with the official OMPT test or its operator — our practice exams exist precisely so that your paid attempts are confirmations, not experiments.