Forum Discussion
Microsoft unscheduled breaks vs Pearson proctor enforcement — candidates getting revoked
I’m starting this thread because the Microsoft “unscheduled breaks” feature is documented and available in the exam UI, but enforcement and support handling appear inconsistent in real OnVUE sessions.
Example case:
Exam: SC-401 via Pearson VUE OnVUE
Date/time: 25 Jan 2026 1:00 PM (Australia/Melbourne)
I initiated an unscheduled break through the exam UI: Take a break, then Start Break
The break screen displayed, the timer continued running, I returned after about 3 minutes and resumed
The session was revoked with messaging implying a policy/security violation
Pearson case: 33927366
Why this matters:
The published policy and the exam UI support unscheduled breaks, but some candidates still get revoked and then receive boilerplate responses referencing “scheduled breaks,” which doesn’t match the Microsoft unscheduled break feature.
What I’m asking Microsoft / the community:
- Clarify the authoritative rule: if an unscheduled break is started in the UI, is it considered an approved break state for stepping away from webcam view?
- Enforcement: can revocation decisions be based on OnVUE telemetry (timestamps for Start Break, break state entry, resume) rather than proctor interpretation?
- Escalation path: what is the official fastest route for remediation when a revocation occurs even though the break was started in the UI?
- Operational guidance: best practices to reduce risk (for example, what exact “break state” confirmation should candidates wait for before stepping away)?
Reference policy article:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/skills-hub-blog/unscheduled-breaks-now-available-in-most-exams-without-requesting-in-advance/3287005
If others have been impacted, please share:
Exam, date, whether you clicked Start Break in the UI, and the resolution path that worked (voucher/refund/retest, and which channel).