What happens if I enter an exam and then can no longer take it?
You can amend or even cancel your exam entry up until the standard exam entry closing date for that exam session. We can then either arrange to refund the exam fee to you or hold the money on your account for payment for the next exams you take. After the standard entry closing date, your examination entry fees are not refundable nor transferable.
If you cannot sit an exam that you have booked to sit, this will not affect the marks of other exams you may have entered to sit and you can sit the exam you missed at the next available examination session.
It is not possible for you to cancel or transfer an exam entry after the standard entry closing date.
We do, however, understand that occasionally difficult circumstances arise after the standard entry closing date, such as serious illness or bereavement of immediate family. In such cases, you can apply to cancel or transfer an exam entry supported by documentary evidence after the standard entry closing date.
Cancellation or transfer requests will only be considered in the cases of critical illness, locally imposed restrictions, or bereavement. and where supported by documentary evidence. Minor illnesses requiring GP, doctor or medical treatment, workload issues, bed rest for example, cannot be considered.
If you have requested a centre-based exam cancellation in any of the last 4 session, you will not be eligible for another.
If you have requested or cancelled a remote-based exam in any of the last 4 session, you will not be granted another.
Eligibility for an exam cancellation and refund or transfer will be assessed on your individual circumstances and there is no guarantee that it will be approved. We will advise you of the outcome, and ACCA’s decision on the matter is final.
Exam fees are not refundable or transferrable after the standard entry deadline.
Our approach aims to support our students by allowing us to plan for exam sittings but supporting those with the most difficult circumstances.
If you still wish to request a cancellation, please have the appropriate documents available for submission to support your request:
- Bereavement of immediate family only, with a copy of the death certificate, officially stamped and where required translated to English and stamped by official translator.
- Critical illness of yourself or immediate family with documentation to support, stamped and signed by your local hospital only and where required translated to English, stamped by official translator.
- Locally imposed restrictions when accompanied by official documentation which will be checked against your local or national government website.
Documents should be signed by the relevant personnel, stamped and on official headed paper, translated to English by official translator where applicable. Any cancellation or transfer request found to be based on the submission of false documents or incorrect information shall be referred to ACCA’s Professional Conduct Department for further investigation.
The quickest and easiest way to request a cancellation is the 'Exam cancellation' option on our contact form, where you can use our webchat function.
In any event if you do contact us and we reject your request, this decision will not be altered unless your circumstances have changed, they meet the criteria mentioned above and are supported with the required documentation.
The deadline for exam cancellation requests is provided by session in our important dates section. Please note if you have already contacted us about an exam cancellation then you don't need to contact us to check the status of your request.
If you are granted a cancellation, you should not attend the examination under any circumstances; in the event that you do so, you will be liable to pay additional fees.