Home » Insights » Failed the HPCSA Board Exam? Re-Marks, Re-Writes, and What to Do Next

Failed the HPCSA Board Exam? Re-Marks, Re-Writes, and What to Do Next

candidate failed exam

Receiving a fail result for the board examination is one of the hardest moments in a psychology career, and it is far more common than most candidates realise. If you have failed the HPCSA board exam, you have formal options: viewing your script, applying for a re-mark, and re-writing at a future sitting. This guide explains each pathway, the forms involved, and the rules that govern re-examination, so you can make an informed decision quickly. For the full picture of how the exam is structured by registration category, read our HPCSA board exam preparation guide.

What Your Board Exam Result Actually Means

The pass mark for the psychology board examination is 70% across all registration categories (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023). Additionally, psychometrists must achieve a sub-minimum of 70% on the ethics questions specifically. Consequently, a psychometrist candidate can score well overall and still fail if the ethics component falls short.

A fail result does not remove your eligibility to register. It means you have not yet met the examination requirement, and the HPCSA provides a defined process for what happens next. Importantly, the Professional Board for Psychology allows unsuccessful candidates to repeat the examination, subject to the limits explained below (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023).

Failed HPCSA Board Exam? You Have Three Options

After results are released, candidates who did not pass can pursue one or more of the following steps. Each has its own rules and its own strategic value.

  • View your examination script. This lets you see where you lost marks and is the logical first step before deciding anything else.
  • Apply for a re-mark. If you believe your script was marked incorrectly, you can request that different markers re-assess it.
  • Re-apply and re-write. You can register for a future sitting, provided you remain within the Board’s re-examination limits.

These options are not mutually exclusive. In practice, many candidates view their script first, then decide between a re-mark application and focused preparation for the next sitting.

How Script Viewing Works

The HPCSA examination policy sets out specific conditions for viewing your script (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023). Firstly, only the candidate who wrote the examination may view the script; no third parties are permitted. Secondly, you must present valid proof of identification. Thirdly, you will view a copy of your script rather than the original, and you may not remove it from HPCSA premises or make copies of it.

Furthermore, viewing applies to the applicable examination period only, so you cannot request access to scripts from earlier sittings. Treat the viewing session as a diagnostic exercise: note which content areas cost you marks, whether your answers addressed the questions directly, and whether time management affected the later questions. This information is the foundation for everything that follows.

Deciding between a re-mark and a re-write? A structured second attempt often benefits from expert input. PsyCampus offers a one-on-one board exam coaching session with a registered psychologist who can help you turn your script review into a targeted preparation plan.

Applying for a Re-Mark: Form 260 RM and Form 225-RM

Candidates who are dissatisfied with their mark after viewing their script may apply for a re-mark. The re-mark is conducted by different markers appointed by the Board, and the outcome of the re-mark is final (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023).

The application form depends on your registration category. Psychologists apply using Form 260 RM, while registered counsellors and psychometrists apply using Form 225-RM. Both forms are available on the HPCSA examinations page (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2026).

Before applying, confirm the current re-mark requirements, timeframes, and any applicable fees directly with the Professional Board for Psychology at psychexams@hpcsa.co.za. Moreover, be realistic about what a re-mark can achieve: it is appropriate where you genuinely believe marks were miscounted or answers misjudged, not as a substitute for addressing content gaps identified during script viewing.

Re-Writing the Exam: The Six-Attempt Rule

If you decide to re-write, the governing rule is clear. Candidates who are unsuccessful may repeat the examination a maximum of six times within a two-year timeframe (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023). With three sittings per year, this gives you meaningful flexibility, but the two-year window makes it unwise to postpone repeatedly without a structured plan.

Re-applying works much like your original application. Candidates re-applying for the board examination are requested to complete the Examination Guidelines Policy document, Form 255, as part of the process (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2026). Additionally, you must submit your category-specific application form, pay the full examination fee again, and meet the closing date for your intended sitting: 15 December for the February sitting, 30 April for June, and 31 August for October. For the full application requirements and document rules, see our guide to the HPCSA board exam dates and deadlines for 2026.

Finally, remember that cancelling an application must be done in writing by email, and cancellation results in forfeiture of the examination fee (Health Professions Council of South Africa, 2023). Therefore, only apply for a sitting you are genuinely prepared to write.

After a Failed HPCSA Board Exam: How to Prepare Differently

Repeating the same preparation approach usually produces the same result. Candidates who pass on a second attempt typically change how they prepare, not just how much. The script viewing process should drive this: your marks tell you exactly where the gap lies.

Specifically, three patterns account for most unsuccessful attempts. The first is underprepared ethics content, which carries significant weight in every category and a hard sub-minimum for psychometrists. The second is weak applied reasoning: paragraph and case study questions reward structured professional thinking grounded in South African legislation, not factual recall. The third is time management under the three-hour, 100-mark format, which requires practising full written answers under timed conditions.

As a result, your preparation for the next sitting should be category-specific and structured around the examination format for your registration category. PsyCampus offers targeted preparation for counselling psychology candidates and registered counsellor candidates, covering legislation, HPCSA requirements, scope of practice, and case conceptualisation. If you want individual guidance on where your last attempt went wrong, book a one-on-one coaching session with a registered psychologist who has been through the process.

References

Scroll to Top