Microsoft has a set retake policy which applies to all their certification exams. These retake policies are in place to help protect the integrity of Microsoft exams from illegal copying and distribution. Microsoft is determined to stamp out braindump sites which are used to help people cheat their way through exams.
If you are unfortunate enough to fail an exam, do not worry as you can usually take the exam within a short period. This does not apply to Beta exams. See below.
Microsoft's retake policy is as follows:
General MCP Exam Retake Policy
1. If a you do not pass an exam the first time, you may retake it after at least 24 hours have passed.
2. If you do not achieve a passing score the second time, you must wait at least 14 days to retake the exam for a third time.
3. The same 14 day waiting period will be applied to all your subsequent exam retakes.
4. You are not allowed to take any exam any more than five times in a single year. If you do want to take an exam more than five times a year, then you must obtain permission from Microsoft.
5. If you have already passed an exam you cannot take it again.
If you are thinking of taking MCP beta exams then the following Microsoft retake policy applies
1. Beta exams can be taken only once, ever.
2. This policy supersedes the general retake policy and tales precedence.
A beta exam is an early release of an exam that is not available to the general public. You may volunteer to take a beta exam, but you must accept the fact that questions are in their infancy and some may be incorrect. Beta exams are usually released well before the official exam date so that Microsoft can fine tune the questions following your feedback.