diff --git a/src/constants.js b/src/constants.js
index 6d975d6b..0358e2ed 100644
--- a/src/constants.js
+++ b/src/constants.js
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export const ExamAction = Object.freeze({
   ERROR: 'error',
   RESET: 'reset_attempt',
   CLICK_DOWNLOAD_SOFTWARE: 'click_download_software',
+  DECLINE: 'decline',
 });
 
 export const VerificationStatus = Object.freeze({
diff --git a/src/data/api.js b/src/data/api.js
index 5cd6f610..1aa603c5 100644
--- a/src/data/api.js
+++ b/src/data/api.js
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ export async function softwareDownloadAttempt(attemptId) {
   return updateAttemptStatus(attemptId, ExamAction.CLICK_DOWNLOAD_SOFTWARE);
 }
 
+export async function declineAttempt(attemptId) {
+  return updateAttemptStatus(attemptId, ExamAction.DECLINE);
+}
+
 export async function fetchExamReviewPolicy(examId) {
   const url = new URL(
     `${getConfig().LMS_BASE_URL}/api/edx_proctoring/v1/proctored_exam/review_policy/exam_id/${examId}/`,
diff --git a/src/data/thunks.js b/src/data/thunks.js
index 4d64a405..827dbce3 100644
--- a/src/data/thunks.js
+++ b/src/data/thunks.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   fetchVerificationStatus,
   fetchExamReviewPolicy,
   resetAttempt,
+  declineAttempt,
 } from './api';
 import { isEmpty } from '../helpers';
 import {
@@ -167,9 +168,16 @@ export function skipProctoringExam() {
       logError('Failed to skip proctored exam. No exam id.');
       return;
     }
-    await updateAttemptAfter(
-      exam.course_id, exam.content_id, createExamAttempt(exam.id, true, false),
-    )(dispatch);
+    const attemptId = exam.attempt.attempt_id;
+    if (attemptId) {
+      await updateAttemptAfter(
+        exam.course_id, exam.content_id, declineAttempt(attemptId),
+      )(dispatch);
+    } else {
+      await updateAttemptAfter(
+        exam.course_id, exam.content_id, createExamAttempt(exam.id, true, false),
+      )(dispatch);
+    }
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/exam/Exam.jsx b/src/exam/Exam.jsx
index 66476893..a09bf267 100644
--- a/src/exam/Exam.jsx
+++ b/src/exam/Exam.jsx
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ const Exam = ({ isTimeLimited, children }) => {
   const {
     isLoading, activeAttempt, showTimer, stopExam, exam,
     expireExam, pollAttempt, apiErrorMsg, pingAttempt,
-    getVerificationData, getAllowProctoringOptOut, getProctoringSettings,
+    getVerificationData, getProctoringSettings,
   } = state;
 
-  const { type: examType, content_id: sequenceId, id: examId } = exam || {};
+  const { type: examType, id: examId } = exam || {};
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (examId) {
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ const Exam = ({ isTimeLimited, children }) => {
     }
     if (examType === ExamType.PROCTORED) {
       getVerificationData();
-      getAllowProctoringOptOut(sequenceId);
     }
 
     // this makes sure useEffect gets called only one time after the exam has been fetched
diff --git a/src/instructions/index.jsx b/src/instructions/index.jsx
index 356d55db..5d083c2f 100644
--- a/src/instructions/index.jsx
+++ b/src/instructions/index.jsx
@@ -41,12 +41,8 @@ const Instructions = ({ children }) => {
 
   const renderEmptyAttemptInstructions = () => {
     let component = <EntranceExamInstructions examType={examType} skipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
-    if (examType === ExamType.PROCTORED) {
-      if (skipProctoring) {
-        component = <SkipProctoredExamInstruction cancelSkipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
-      } else if (!prerequisitesPassed) {
-        component = <PrerequisitesProctoredExamInstructions skipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
-      }
+    if (examType === ExamType.PROCTORED && !prerequisitesPassed) {
+      component = <PrerequisitesProctoredExamInstructions skipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
     }
     return component;
   };
@@ -59,12 +55,14 @@ const Instructions = ({ children }) => {
   }
 
   switch (true) {
+    case examType === ExamType.PROCTORED && skipProctoring:
+      return <SkipProctoredExamInstruction cancelSkipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
     case isEmpty(attempt) || !attempt.attempt_id:
       return renderEmptyAttemptInstructions();
     case attempt.attempt_status === ExamStatus.CREATED:
       return examType === ExamType.PROCTORED && verificationStatus !== VerificationStatus.APPROVED
         ? <VerificationProctoredExamInstructions status={verificationStatus} verificationUrl={verificationUrl} />
-        : <DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions />;
+        : <DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions skipProctoredExam={toggleSkipProctoredExam} />;
     case attempt.attempt_status === ExamStatus.DOWNLOAD_SOFTWARE_CLICKED:
       return <DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions />;
     case attempt.attempt_status === ExamStatus.READY_TO_START:
diff --git a/src/instructions/proctored_exam/download-instructions/index.jsx b/src/instructions/proctored_exam/download-instructions/index.jsx
index e3a982e9..00871359 100644
--- a/src/instructions/proctored_exam/download-instructions/index.jsx
+++ b/src/instructions/proctored_exam/download-instructions/index.jsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import React, { useContext, useState } from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import { FormattedMessage, injectIntl, intlShape } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { Container } from '@edx/paragon';
 import ExamStateContext from '../../../context';
@@ -10,13 +11,15 @@ import ProviderInstructions from './ProviderInstructions';
 import DefaultInstructions from './DefaultInstructions';
 import DownloadButtons from './DownloadButtons';
 import Footer from '../Footer';
+import SkipProctoredExamButton from '../SkipProctoredExamButton';
 
-const DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions = ({ intl }) => {
+const DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions = ({ intl, skipProctoredExam }) => {
   const state = useContext(ExamStateContext);
   const {
     proctoringSettings,
     exam,
     getExamAttemptsData,
+    allowProctoringOptOut,
   } = state;
   const {
     attempt,
@@ -120,6 +123,7 @@ const DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions = ({ intl }) => {
           </p>
         )}
       </Container>
+      {allowProctoringOptOut && <SkipProctoredExamButton handleClick={skipProctoredExam} />}
       <Footer />
     </div>
   );
@@ -127,6 +131,7 @@ const DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions = ({ intl }) => {
 
 DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions.propTypes = {
   intl: intlShape.isRequired,
+  skipProctoredExam: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
 };
 
 export default injectIntl(DownloadSoftwareProctoredExamInstructions);