What Happens if You Miss Your PTE Exam?


Life is unpredictable — despite all your preparation, you might find yourself in a situation where you miss your PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic Exam. Whether due to illness, an emergency, or simply confusion about the date or time, it’s important to know what happens next.
1. No Show = No Refund
If you miss your PTE exam without any prior notice or rescheduling, it is considered a "No Show." Unfortunately, in such cases:
You lose your test fee.
You are not eligible for a refund or transfer.
The test will be marked as absent, and no score report will be generated.
2. Can You Reschedule After Missing the Test?
No. Once the scheduled test time has passed, you cannot reschedule. If you still wish to take the exam, you’ll have to:
Book a new test date
Pay the full exam fee again
📝 Tip: If you know in advance that you can’t make it, reschedule at least 14 days before the test for a full refund or change. Between 13-7 days, you’ll get only a partial refund.
3. Medical Emergency or Serious Issues
Pearson does make exceptions in some cases. If you miss the exam due to:
Serious illness
Family emergency
Natural disaster
You may be eligible for a partial refund or free reschedule, but:
You must inform Pearson within 14 calendar days of the test date
You’ll need to submit official supporting documents (e.g., doctor’s note, hospital discharge summary, etc.)
Pearson will review your case and their decision is final.
4. What You Can Do Next
If you've missed your PTE exam:
Don’t panic — you're not the first.
Check your Pearson account for official status.
Rebook your test if needed.
Use the extra time to improve your preparation.
Final Thoughts
Missing your PTE exam can feel frustrating, but it's not the end of your journey. Stay calm, understand the policies, and plan your next steps wisely.
For detailed information, PTE updates, preparation tips, and more, you can visit 79score.com — a trusted platform where you'll find everything you need to know about the PTE Exam!
Also Read:
Key Differences Between PTE Academic and PTE Core
5 Best Alternatives to AlfaPTE For PTE Preparation
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Written by

Hitesh Patel
Hitesh Patel
I am Hitesh Patel, a dynamic entrepreneur and a leading innovator in PTE (Pearson Test of English) preparation. As the founder of 79score, I have been instrumental in building a platform that helps students achieve their desired PTE scores through advanced digital tools and resources.