AB-900 Exam was terminated stating I left exam space

The behavior described maps to two separate aspects of Microsoft Certification exams: unscheduled breaks/“leaving the space” and how to get help or escalate.

1. On the timer showing 45 vs. 65 minutes

For fundamentals exams, the documented exam duration is 45 minutes and the total “seat time” is 65 minutes. Seat time includes time for instructions, the candidate agreement, and post‑exam comments, but the on‑screen exam timer only shows the exam duration (45 minutes for fundamentals), not the full 65 minutes.

So seeing 45 minutes on the timer for a fundamentals exam is expected and not an error.

Relevant details:

• Fundamentals exams: 45 minutes exam duration, 65 minutes seat duration.
• Seat duration includes instructions, agreement, and optional comments; only the exam duration is available to answer questions.

2. On being flagged for “leaving the testing space”

For online exams with Pearson VUE (OnVUE):

• The proctor monitors the candidate via video and audio and can terminate the exam if they believe the Candidate Rules Agreement or OnVUE policies were violated.
• If a proctor feels the rules have been broken or suspects cheating/tampering, they terminate the exam and report the infraction to Microsoft, including audio/video evidence. The exam may be invalidated and, in serious cases, candidates can be decertified or banned.
• During unscheduled breaks, candidates may leave the camera view only if a break is properly initiated through the exam UI. If a candidate leaves the camera view or appears to leave the testing space without initiating a break, the exam can be revoked.
• Accessing any unauthorized materials during a break (or appearing to do so) is also grounds for revocation.

The documentation does not describe community statistics on “false flags” or success rates of appeals, but it does confirm that:

• Proctors act based on what they observe on video.
• Microsoft and Pearson VUE rely on recorded audio/video when investigating security incidents.

3. What to do and how to escalate

Based on the documented support paths and security policies, the concrete steps are:

1. Use Pearson VUE/OnVUE support for immediate exam‑session issues

• For issues during or immediately after an online exam (including terminations), Pearson OnVUE Support is the first contact. The OnVUE guide and FAQs are the primary resources for their policies.
• If the exam was terminated and there is a dispute about what happened, Pearson VUE has the recording and can review it as part of their incident handling.

2. Contact Microsoft Credentials support to open a case

• For post‑exam issues (revoked exam, questions about results, or needing Microsoft to review what Pearson VUE reported), the documented path is to contact Microsoft Credentials support.
• Use the “Credentials support” entry point to open a support request about the exam incident and ask for a review of the termination and exam status. Provide:
  • Exam name and code.
  • Date/time of the exam.
  • That the exam was revoked for “leaving the testing space” and that this did not occur from the candidate’s perspective.

3. For security/behavior concerns about the proctor or test center

• When there are concerns about exam security or how the rules were applied, Microsoft directs candidates to the Pearson VUE test security form. This is specifically for reporting security concerns and suspected issues with how the exam was proctored.

4. Understanding the limits

• Microsoft’s security policy makes clear that if a proctor believes the rules were broken, they must terminate the exam and report it. Microsoft may invalidate the exam based on that report and the recording.
• The documentation does not guarantee that an appeal will restore the exam or allow a free retake; outcomes depend on the investigation of the recorded session.

4. Direct answers to the questions

• Similar issues with time: The 45‑minute timer for a fundamentals exam is expected behavior, not an error.
• Similar issues with proctor flags: The documentation confirms that proctors can and do terminate exams based on their observations and that incidents are reported with audio/video evidence. It does not provide statistics on frequency or success rates of appeals.
• Do they review recordings and how successful are appeals: The security policy states that proctors submit audio/video evidence to Microsoft when reporting infractions, which implies that recordings are used in investigations. The documentation does not state success rates of appeals.
• Recommended escalation beyond standard support:
  • First: Pearson OnVUE Support (for the specific exam incident).
  • Then: Microsoft Credentials support (for exam status, potential retake, and review of the incident).
  • For security/proctor‑behavior concerns: the Pearson VUE test security form.

References:

• Exam duration and exam experience
• About online exams with Pearson VUE
• Exam and assessment lab security policy
• An Important Update on Microsoft Training and Certification