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Candidate bans

Updated: May 2020
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If a candidate violates any testing rule, exam policy, or term within the exam agreement (NDA), or engages in any misconduct that diminishes the security and integrity of the Microsys Certification Program in any way, the candidate may be permanently prohibited from taking any future Microsys Certification exams. In addition, the candidate may be decertified from the Microsys Certification Program, and test scores and certifications may be revoked.
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Examples of such misconduct, misuse, and fraud include, but are not limited to, the following:
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  • Falsifying score reports, by modifying and/or altering the original results/score reports for any exam record
  • Cheating during the exam (such as looking at the monitors of other exam takers, using an unauthorized device, or looking at notes)
  • Providing or accepting improper assistance
  • Bringing non-authorized items into the testing center during an exam session (such as notes or unauthorized materials and electronic devices, such as cell phones)
  • Using unauthorized material in attempting to satisfy certification requirements (this includes using "brain-dump" material and/or unauthorized publication of exam questions with or without answers)
  • Falsifying identity or impersonating another individual to gain access to an exam
  • Misconduct as determined by statistical analysis
  • Copying, publishing, disclosing, transmitting, selling, offering to sell, posting, downloading, distributing in any way, or otherwise transferring, modifying, making derivative works of, reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, or translating any exam in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose
  • Disclosing Microsys intellectual property (IP)
  • Disseminating actual exam content
  • Using the exam content in any manner that violates applicable law
  • Violating the current exam retake policy
  • Violating the Microsys non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in any way
  • Violating the agreement with the exam delivery provider in any way
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Candidate appeal process

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  1. Candidates may appeal their ban by submitting an appeal to service@microsysolution.com.
  2. The Microsys Learning Experiences Security Team will review all submitted appeal requests and conduct a thorough investigation of each specific case and will communicate directly with the candidate regarding the conclusion of the investigation and final appeal decision.
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Exam retake policy

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General Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exam retake policy
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  1. Retake vouchers can only be used to retake the same exam that was failed.
  2. All vouchers must be used prior to their expiration dates, without exception.
  3. Retake vouchers must be used within 30 days of the initial failed exam.
  4. As of July 1, 2014, the retake policy changed to the following:
    1. In most cases, exams can NOT be retaken; however, candidates may retake exams that are based on rapidly changing technologies annually. 
    2. If a candidate achieves a passing score on an exam, the candidate cannot take the exam again.
    3. To take a given exam more than five times per year, a candidate must submit a request and obtain prior permission from Microsys.
    4. A candidate may not take a given exam any more than five times per year (12 months). This 12-month period starts the day of the fifth unsuccessful exam retake. The candidate is then eligible to retake the exam 12 months from that date.
    5. A seven-day waiting period is imposed for each subsequent exam retake.
    6. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score the second time, the candidate must wait seven days before retaking the exam a third time.
    7. If a candidate does not achieve a passing score on an exam the first time, the candidate must wait at least 24 hours before retaking the exam.
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Testing center closures due to security reasons
 

  1. Microsys may suspend testing at any location where we deem there is a security or integrity problem.
  2. Microsys may suspend testing at sites that are related to test sites that pose security risks.

     

Testing center appeal process

 
Testing center owners can appeal a site closure by submitting an appeal to service@microsysolution.com.
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Data forensics


Microsys will use data forensics as a basis for an enforcement action against a candidate. Statistical evidence may demonstrate diminished exam integrity and/or be used to corroborate evidence of improper activity. Exams and scores may be canceled, candidates may be banned, and testing centers may be closed, based on statistical evidence.
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Out-of-country testing

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To sit for a Microsys Certification exam at a Microsys testing center in India, China, or Pakistan, you must be a legitimate resident of that country. If you are a legitimate resident of that country, note the following:
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Testing centers in these three countries are required to confirm and record that each Microsoft Certification candidate has shown documented proof that he or she is a legitimate resident of that specific country. To verify country of residence status, the candidate is required to present two forms of original (no photocopies), valid (unexpired) IDs—one form as a primary ID (government issued with name, photo, and signature) and one form as a secondary ID (with name and signature).
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Important: If you are not a legitimate resident of India, China, or Pakistan, you will not be allowed to sit for a Microsys Certification exam within that country.
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Candidate retesting at request of Microsys

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  1. Microsys reserves the right to ask any candidate to retest for any supected fraudulent activity or anomalous testing patterns at any time.
  2. Retesting will take place at a facility that is selected by Microsys at a time agreed upon by Microsys and the candidate.
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Revoking certifications

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If a candidate violates any testing rule, exam policy, or term within the exam agreement (NDA), or engages in any misconduct that diminishes the security and integrity of the Microsys Certification Program in any way, the candidate may be permanently prohibited from taking any future Microsys Certification exams. In addition, the candidate may be decertified from the Microsys Certification Program, and test scores and certifications may be revoked.
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Right of exclusion

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Based on security and integrity concerns, Microsys reserves the right to exclude specific regions, countries, and testing centers from the Microsys Certification Program altogether.
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