Can GMAC Cancel Your GMAT Focus Scores?

Yes, GMAC reserves the right to cancel or withhold any test scores when a testing irregularity occurs, there is an apparent discrepancy in, or falsification of, a test taker’s identification, a test taker engages in misconduct or plagiarism, or the scores are believed to be invalid for any other reason. Check out the GMAT exam policies and how non-compliance can lead to GMAT exam score cancellation or debarring from taking the exam in this article. 

To ensure GMAT Scores accurately reflect the skill and performance of each test-taker, GMAC standards and procedures for administering tests have two goals:

1. Give test-takers comparable opportunities to demonstrate their abilities
2. Prevent any test takers from gaining an unfair advantage over others.

GMAC, therefore, reserves the right to cancel or withhold any test scores when, in our judgment, a testing irregularity occurs, there is an apparent discrepancy in, or falsification of, a test taker’s identification, a test taker engages in misconduct or plagiarism, or the scores are believed to be invalid for any other reason.

When the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the global non-profit council of business schools and administrator of the GMAT exam, cancel test scores that have already been reported, score recipients will generally be told that the scores have been cancelled but not the reason for cancellation, unless requested by the test taker; however, GMAC reserve the right in all cases to report the reason for a score cancellation. It also reserves the right to prohibit a test taker from future GMAT testing and to pursue other remedies.

Reasons Why GMAC Cancels GMAT Exam Score

There are various reasons why GMAC can cancel your GMAT scores and they are as follows:

1. Testing Irregularities

Testing irregularities may affect an individual examinee or groups of test-takers. They include, but are not limited to:

• Administrative errors (such as improper timing, improper seating, defective materials, or defective equipment)
• Improper or inadvertent access to or disclosure of test content involving individuals who cannot be identified
• Disruptions of test administrations (such as natural disasters or other emergencies)

If a testing irregularity occurs, GMAC  may decline to score the applicable test(s), or may cancel or withhold test scores. When, in GMAC’s sole judgment, it is appropriate to do so, they allow affected test takers to take the test again as soon as possible without charge.

2. Identification Discrepancies

When, in the judgment of GMAC, and/or test centre personnel, there is a discrepancy in, or falsification of, a test taker’s identification, the test taker may be denied access to or dismissed from the test centre, his/her test may not be scored, his/her test scores may be cancelled or withheld, and GMAC may pursue other appropriate remedies. Officially, the following are considered policy violations by GMAC:

• Someone else is taking the exam on behalf of the actual GMAT registered applicant.
• Intentionally, applicants who give false information to exam proctors.
• Memorising test questions or sharing them with fellow test takers.
• Failing to re-submit the notes made or the whiteboard used during the exam.

Failing to comply with any of the rules above can either lead to - the cancellation of scores, including scores from past exams, a ban on any future testing (including online testing), or even a legal action can be taken.

3. Misconduct During Exam
When, in the judgment of GMAC, and/or test centre personnel, there is misconduct in connection with a test:

• The test taker may be denied access to or dismissed from the test centre
• His/her test may not be scored
• His/her test scores may be cancelled or withheld
• GMAC and/or Pearson VUE may pursue other appropriate remedies

Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Noncompliance with any terms and conditions described in the GMAT Handbook; GMAT Examination Testing Rules & Agreement; and/or the GMAT Non-Disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use
• Any unauthorized access to or disclosure of test content before, during, or after the test administration
• Using any prohibited aids in connection with the test
• Engaging in plagiarism
• Leaving the testing room without permission
• Attempting to remove from the test room, in any manner, any test materials or notes relating to the test
• Attempting to give or receive assistance or otherwise communicate with another person during the test administration
• Attempting to take the test for someone else
• Creating a disturbance
• Failing to follow any instructions given by the test administrator

4. Invalid Scores

GMAC may cancel or withhold scores if, in their judgment, there is a good faith basis to question the validity of the scores for any reason. Evidence of invalid scores may include, without limitation:

• Unusual answer patterns
• Unusual score increases from one exam to another
• Inconsistent performance on different parts of the test
• Failure to obey exam administration rules

5. Challenging a Decision to Cancel or Withhold Scores

• In some, but not all, situations, GMAC and/or Pearson VUE will notify the test taker in writing in advance about a planned score cancellation or invalidation, allow the test taker to submit information that addresses the concerns raised, consider any information that is submitted, and offer the test taker a choice of options. The options may include voluntary score cancellation, a free retest, and appealing the cancellation decision through procedures provided by GMAC or Pearson VUE. In any such appeal, the issue to be decided would be whether GMAC and/or Pearson VUE had a good-faith reason to question the validity of the GMAT score.
• There are circumstances, however, in which examinees may have their scores cancelled or withheld without prior notice or an opportunity to appeal. Those circumstances generally involve disruptions by an examinee during exam administration, advance disclosure of exam content (even if GMAC or Pearson VUE cannot confirm a specific examinee’s actual access to disclosed test content), and cases in which an examinee is observed violating exam policies by a test administrator and/or is discharged from the testing site; in these situations, examinees will simply be informed that their scores have been cancelled or invalidated.

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The GMAT Exam is Valuable Intellectual Property

The various components that comprise the GMAT test, including, but not limited to, the GMAT test questions, software, and algorithm, are embodiments of the valuable intellectual property rights of GMAC. These rights include, but are not limited to, copyright and/or trade secret rights, and they are zealously protected. In particular, the GMAT test questions administered at test centres are valuable, copyrighted, and a trade secret property of GMAC. These test questions have not been previously published or disclosed to the general public. Before you take the GMAT exam, you agree to maintain the confidentiality of all test questions administered to you during the test. Disclosure of test questions in any form by any means in violation of this confidentiality agreement undermines the integrity and security of the GMAT exam.

Any unauthorised access, reproduction, distribution, or disclosure of GMAT test questions before, during, or after you take the GMAT test is a violation of U.S. and international intellectual property laws and treaties. We will pursue all available remedies (including those enumerated in the GMAT Handbook), which may include prosecution to the maximum extent possible under such laws and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties.