What Happens If You Fail the Police OAC
A clear, reassuring explanation of what happens next, what it means for your application, and what options you have.
Short answer
Last reviewed 1 October 2026If you fail the police OAC you can usually try again. The College of Policing says you can resit from three months after the start date of your assessment window, no more than twice in any 12-month period, and you must redo every exercise. Your results email links to a personalised feedback report showing your score for each exercise and the required pass marks. If you have a procedural concern or extenuating circumstances, you must appeal in writing to your force within 24 hours of taking the assessment; you cannot appeal after you get your result, and an automatic fail cannot be appealed.
Forces can decide locally and may tell you something different, so check your own outcome email. A fail is a snapshot of one assessment, not a judgement of you.
Sources: College candidate guide, College pre-employment guidance.
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First, an important reassurance
Failing the Online Assessment Centre does not mean you are unsuitable for policing.
The OAC has a national minimum standard, and capable, motivated candidates do sometimes fall short of it first time.
This is not a judgement of your intelligence, character or potential. It is an assessment of what you showed in three specific exercises, and it can reflect unfamiliarity with the format or difficulty communicating evidence under pressure.
Understanding what happens next can help remove unnecessary panic and self-blame.
What “failing” the OAC actually means
When candidates say they have “failed” the OAC, it usually means one of the following:
- • They did not meet the national standard set by the College of Policing
- • Their scores did not reach the standard (the pass mark itself is not published)
The OAC is made up of multiple exercises:
Your feedback report shows your overall score for each exercise and describes what better-performing candidates did, so you can see where to improve. The published guidance does not say whether a strong exercise can offset a weaker one, so ask your force. A separate case is an automatic fail, which applies if independent quality assurance finds you acted against the Code of Ethics, behaved inappropriately to others, or sought an unfair advantage (for example by using prepared notes or a second device). That is decided regardless of your scores and cannot be appealed.
How you are told the result
Your recruiting force tells you when to expect results. You then receive an automated email from police.assessments@notifications.service.gov.uk with instructions to view your outcome and personalised feedback report. Check your junk folder.
What the report contains: your overall score for each exercise, more information about the exercise, and the kinds of performance that distinguish better-performing candidates. (A 2022 College FAQ said it also explains the pass mark for each exercise; the current guide does not say so.)
Making the most of your feedback report
The report is personalised, but it summarises performance rather than marking your answers line by line.
Use it to:
- • See which exercise or exercises fell short
- • Compare your answers with the values and competencies assessed
- • Decide what to practise before a resit
If something in the report is unclear, ask your recruiting force.
Can you reapply after failing the OAC?
In most cases, yes.
The College of Policing says:
- • You can resit from three months after the start date of your assessment window
- • You must redo every exercise, and can attempt the assessments no more than twice in any 12-month period
In the College's words, the three-month gap gives people time to develop before reapplying. In practice it allows:
- • Reflection
- • Further experience
- • Improved preparation
Forces can decide locally and can notify you of a different arrangement, so check your own recruiting force's guidance. You can hold applications with several forces but may only sit the assessments with one at a time, and a pass can sometimes be transferred to another force at that force's discretion. Severely inappropriate language or behaviour during the assessment means you cannot resit that stage for at least two years.
Can you appeal an OAC result?
- The deadline is short. Concerns about a procedural issue or extenuating circumstances must go in writing to your force's recruitment department within 24 hours of taking the assessment, with supporting evidence. Appeals received later are not considered, so you cannot appeal after you receive your final result.
- Only if you did not meet the standard. If you met the standard your appeal is not considered further, although procedural issues are still investigated.
- Extenuating circumstances means serious events such as illness, accident, injury, or the death or serious illness of a family member. Lack of preparation or a heavy workload does not count. If you know beforehand, ask your force to delay or extend, because that is not a ground for appeal afterwards.
- Technical problems: stop, use the technical support button, and tell your force or recruit@college.police.uk. You may be granted a retake if a technical fault affected you.
- An automatic fail cannot be appealed. The feedback questionnaire is not an appeal either.
Source: College candidate guide.
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Unsure where you lost marks?
If you’re unsure where things may have fallen short, the free “Are You Ready for the Police Online Assessment Centre?” readiness check can help you identify preparation gaps before deciding next steps.
What happens to your current application
If you are unsuccessful at the OAC stage:
- • Your current application will usually end
- • You will not progress to later stages such as vetting or offers
This can feel abrupt, but it is a normal part of structured recruitment.
It does not prevent future applications.
Common emotional reactions (and why they’re normal)
Candidates often feel:
These reactions are understandable.
The OAC requires personal reflection, which makes outcomes feel personal even when they are procedural.
Allowing time to process the result is often helpful before making decisions.
What tends to help on a resit (our general advice)
Things that are likely to help:
- ✓ Understand the format more clearly
- ✓ Prepare examples more deliberately
- ✓ Improve structure and reflection
- ✓ Feel less overwhelmed by the process
Experience of the OAC itself can be valuable learning.
Should you reapply or step away?
This is a personal decision.
Some candidates benefit from:
- • Gaining more life or work experience
- • Allowing time before reapplying
- • Reflecting calmly rather than rushing
Others decide policing is not the right path for them at this time.
Neither choice is a failure.
What matters is making an informed decision rather than reacting emotionally.
How to approach a future attempt differently
Things that are likely to help on a future attempt:
- • Focus on clarity over confidence
- • Prepare structured examples in advance
- • Practise verbal explanations aloud
- • Spend time reflecting on past experiences
You cannot use prepared notes or scripts in the assessment, so preparation should be about examples and reasoning, not memorised answers. Understanding how the OAC is marked can also help realign preparation.
Final reassurance
The Online Assessment Centre is a snapshot, not a judgement of your worth or potential.
An unsuccessful result does not close the door on policing forever. It simply means that, at that point in time, the evidence presented did not meet the required standard.
What matters is how you choose to move forward.
FAQ
Can I reapply after failing the police OAC?
How long do I have to wait to retake the OAC?
Will I get feedback if I fail the OAC?
Can I appeal my OAC result?
What is an automatic fail on the OAC?
Does failing the OAC mean I am not suited to policing?
What happens to my application if I fail the OAC?
What is the pass mark for the OAC?
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Sources used on this page
- Online assessment process candidate guide (College of Policing, updated July 2026): resits, appeals, automatic fail, results and feedback report.
- College candidate FAQs v2.2 (2022, older guidance): what it said about pass marks.
- Police constable pre-employment guidance (April 2024): reapplying and the two-year rule.
Independent guidance, not affiliated with the College of Policing. Your force sets your window and results timeline. Failed vetting instead? See what happens if you fail vetting; for the full OAC guide see the OAC explained.