· Quebec EETC · 5 min read
Didn't pass part of the EETC? Rewriting just the failed section
If you've received your EETC results and one part didn't go the way you hoped, the news is better than it might feel right now.
A failed part is not a failed exam
If you’ve received your EETC results and one part didn’t go the way you hoped, the news is better than it might feel right now. Since January 2013, CEETC policy allows candidates who fail one part of the EETC to rewrite only that part. You don’t retake the whole exam. The part you passed is banked.
That’s a significant and humane policy. It means a failed Part One (the objective language tasks) doesn’t undo a passed Part Two, and vice versa. Your rewrite is focused and targeted — and so your preparation for it should be too.
Understanding what “failed” means for each part
If you failed Part One
Part One is marked out of 30, and the pass standard is roughly 70 per cent — around 21 out of 30 correct, as set out in CEETC policy (confirm the exact threshold with CEETC). A result below that threshold means a Part One rewrite.
The key question is: where did you drop marks? The section covers grammar, spelling, punctuation, participles, and related language conventions. If your score was, say, 17 or 18, you were close — a targeted push on your weaker categories is enough. If you scored significantly lower, a more systematic review is needed.
If you failed Part Two (one or both writing tasks)
Each writing task is scored Pass/Fail independently. If you failed one task but passed the other, you only need to rewrite the failed one. If you failed both, you rewrite both in the same sitting.
Part Two failure grades are assigned against a roughly nine-criterion rubric (see our post on the writing criteria). The most important thing you can do before rewriting is identify which criteria pulled your result. Some are writing-quality issues (content, organisation, vocabulary, grammar, syntax, register); two are process failures (instructions not followed; under minimum word count) that are entirely preventable the second time around.
The reread option (Part Two only)
CEETC’s 2016 policy also includes a reread provision for Part Two: within 20 days of receiving your results, you can request that your writing be re-evaluated, for a fee. A reread is not the same as a rewrite — it’s a second look at the same submitted work, not a new attempt.
A reread makes sense if you have reason to believe a criterion was misapplied, or if your result is borderline and the outcome affects an internship deadline. It does not make sense as a fallback when the writing itself has clear weaknesses. If you failed because of content, organisation, or instruction-following, a reread won’t change the result — a rewrite with better preparation will.
Confirm current reread timelines, fees, and procedures with CEETC directly, as these may have changed since the 2016 policy.
How to prepare for a rewrite — specifically
A rewrite is not just “do the exam again.” It’s a targeted intervention. The preparation should be narrower and more intentional than your original study.
For a Part One rewrite
- Audit your knowledge gaps. Review the grammar and language categories the EETC covers. Note which ones you’re uncertain about — not just the ones you got wrong, but the ones where you guessed or felt unsure.
- Study the rules explicitly. Don’t rely on instinct. Look up the rule, understand why it applies, and practise applying it in multiple examples before the rewrite.
- Drill under exam conditions. Timed, no autocorrect, no reference materials. The exam environment amplifies uncertainty — practising in that environment reduces it.
For a Part Two rewrite
- Read the prompt more carefully than you did last time. Many Part Two failures trace back to instructions not followed or content not addressing the task. This is the first thing to fix.
- Structure before you write. A quick plan (audience, purpose, key points, closing) takes two minutes and prevents the organisational problems that sink otherwise competent writing.
- Count your words before you submit. If under minimum word count was a factor in your failure, this simple step is the fix. Write above the minimum, check, then submit.
- Review against the criteria. Before you finish, run through the rubric: content, organisation, vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax/register. One pass through is worth doing.
Watch your internship timeline
The rewrite policy is generous, but time is not unlimited. Your programme has internship deadlines, and you must pass the EETC before reaching them. If you’re already close to those deadlines, get advice from your faculty about the timing of your rewrite — and don’t delay registering for the next available session.
Use this period well. A focused four to six weeks of preparation between a failed attempt and a rewrite is usually enough, provided the preparation is specific and deliberate.
Know your gaps before you go back in
The most important thing you can do right now is understand exactly where you need to improve. Our free EETC diagnostic helps you identify your gaps across both parts — so your rewrite preparation targets the right things from day one.
Take the free EETC diagnostic →
— The people of SN Academy
