In a traditional college, an “F” on a major paper can ruin your whole semester’s grade. Capella University’s FlexPath program is a little different. Because it is a competency-based program, the idea of “failing” does not mean the same thing as at other schools.
If you submit a project and do not pass, you are given a status of “Not Yet Competent. It can be discouraging, but it’s not the end of the world. Let’s take a look at exactly what happens when you fail Capella assessment attempts and how the system is set up to help you recover and pass.
Step 1: You Receive Detailed Feedback for a Revision
The main thing to keep in mind is that one bad score is not a permanent grade. If you fail the Capella assessment the first time you try, the course locks the next assignment and your professor sends your work back to you.
When you open your scoring guide, you will see exactly what you did not pass. The professor will add specific notes for any area that receives a “Basic” or “Non-Performance” mark. They will give you feedback on what information is missing or needs to be rewritten. The system is supposed to be a learning experience, not a punishment.
Step 2: You have multiple chances to fix it
Capella knows it takes time to learn. So you don’t have to stick with your original score.
For almost all courses, Capella provides up to three total attempts for each assessment.
- Attempt 1: You submit your original work. If it’s not up to the standards, you get feedback.
- Attempt 2: You revise your original paper according to the teacher’s notes and send it back.
- Attempt 3: If you haven’t reached the “Proficient” level, you have one more opportunity to correct the remaining errors.
You do have these extra chances, so a temporary setback does not mean that you will fail Capella assessment requirements for the whole class. All you need to do is follow the teacher’s map to correct your mistakes.
For more details, visit: Common Capella Assessment Mistakes
Step 3: What if You Fail All Three Attempts?
This is the situation most students fear. If you use all three tries and still get a “Not Yet Competent” rating, what happens?
If you fail Capella assessment attempts three times in a row, you will not be able to submit that assignment again. At this point, you fail the whole course. If you re-enroll in the class, your assessment attempts will reset to zero. But you will have to pay for the class again, and it will delay your graduation timeline.
The Capella policy states that if you fail the same course three times, you will be administratively dismissed from the university. Here, you will be asked to leave your degree course altogether.
The Hidden Danger: Running Out of Time
Also in FlexPath, you can fail the Capella assessment timelines just by running out of time. Assessments in active courses must be completed within 12 weeks.
At the end of your 12-week session, if you have an assessment that is still sitting at “Not Yet Competent” or you haven’t submitted at all, you will not pass the course. The class will roll over into your next subscription period, so you will need to pay for another 12 weeks of school to finish the work.
How to Avoid Failing Your Assignments
Here are a few simple habits to make sure you never have to worry about the three-attempt cap:
- Never rewrite the Whole Paper: When you’re revising, only correct the specific things the professor complained about. The parts of the text that are passing stay as they are.
- Talk with a FlexPath Tutor: Capella has free tutoring and writing centers. If you don’t pass your first attempt, before submitting your second attempt, speak to a tutor.
- Don’t rush your last shot: If it’s your 3rd and final attempt, email your professor directly. Have them clarify their feedback so you are 100% sure you have fixed the problem.
Summary: Safety Net for Students
One try at Capella is a request for a do-over. The university provides you with the tools, the feedback, and the extra attempts to make a bad score into a passing one. If you read your professor’s notes, work your 12-week schedule wisely, and ask for help when you are stuck, you can easily avoid the traps that cause students to fail.
Are you a Capella student? Get free FlexPath assessment Samples Here↗
