Q. In the case of a person who learned a masechta but skipped certain parts of it (although the vast majority was done), or failed to understand certain parts, the Rav told me (see question 1435) that this is not a siyum. Nevertheless, if he already told people that he is making a siyim at such-and-such a time, and he is embarrassed to cancel it, may he say the Hadran and Kaddish? (Not during the Nine Days, or evev Pesach, but just stam – as is known that Rav Moshe attended someone’s siyum on one daf of Gemara.) And certainly this is also an accomplishment that is worth celebrating.

A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that he may recite the accustomed siyum text of the hadran and kaddish, since at least for him it was a siyum. He should change and say “lilmod” to learn, instead of “lesayem” to finish, when reciting the Yehi Ratzon.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as Revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a