A multi-bit HARQ feedback is transmitted by a receiver to a transmitter. The multi-bit feedback is a function of a level of convergence reached by a decoder when the previously transmitted coded data bits bit were decoded. The transmitter is configured to select a set of coded data bits for a retransmission as a function of the multi-bit feedback. In some embodiments, different redundancy versions of the coded data bits may be selected as a function of the multi-bit feedback. In other embodiments, a bit puncturing or bit repetition pattern may be selected as a function of the multi-bit feed back.