Techniques for using multiple modulation schemes for a single packet are described. Each data packet is processed and transmitted in up to T blocks, where T>1. Multiple modulation schemes are used for the T blocks to achieve good performance. A transmitter encodes a data packet to generate code bits. The transmitter then forms a block of code bits with the code bits generated for the packet, determines the modulation scheme to use for the block (e.g., based on a mode/rate selected for the packet), maps the code bits for the block based on the modulation scheme to obtain data symbols, and processes and transmits the block of data symbols to a receiver. The transmitter generates and transmits another block in similar manner until the data packet is decoded correctly or all T blocks have been transmitted. The receiver performs the complementary processing to receive and decode the packet.