Pearson VUE Terminated My Exam After 40 Questions — No Refund, Reschedule or Feedback

I am extremely disappointed with the lack of support and communication I have received from both Pearson VUE and IAPP regarding my CIPM exam.

I successfully logged in for my scheduled online CIPM examination and completed approximately 40 questions. In the middle of my exam, the session was suddenly terminated by the proctor due to what I was told were “technical issues” relating to the exam/recording. I was instructed to contact customer service for assistance.

I contacted Pearson VUE as instructed and was provided with a case number. Since then, I have received no meaningful update or resolution regarding what happens next.

I also contacted IAPP and provided them with the details of what occurred, including the Pearson VUE case information. Again, I am still waiting for proper feedback or confirmation of whether I will be allowed to retake the exam at no additional cost or receive a refund.

What makes this experience particularly frustrating is that I paid the full examination fee upfront. Payment is taken almost immediately when an exam is booked, yet when something goes wrong during the examination through no fault of the candidate, there seems to be no urgency in providing assistance or even basic guidance on the next steps.

Trying to obtain assistance telephonically from Pearson VUE has made the situation even more frustrating. After going through multiple verification steps, I have then been placed on hold for more than 30 minutes without getting the answers I need.

This is a professional certification examination that candidates spend considerable time and money preparing for. Having an exam terminated after approximately 40 questions is already extremely stressful. Being left afterwards with no clear resolution, no confirmation of a free reschedule, and no confirmation of a refund makes the experience significantly worse.

At this stage, I am simply asking for a clear and reasonable resolution:

Either allow me to retake my CIPM examination at no additional cost, or refund the examination fee I paid.

I would also appreciate an actual update on my case instead of having to repeatedly follow up with both organisations to find out what is happening.

The level of communication and support I have received following an issue that occurred during a paid examination has been extremely disappointing.