Testing issues and policy violations may result in score cancellations and other consequences. We will report your scores to schools/programs ONLY if you follow all the GMAT Policies and Procedures. We also reserve the right to cancel or withhold any test scores when, in our judgment, there is a good faith basis to question the validity of a score for any reason. We do our best to cancel scores as soon as possible; however, we may discover information that leads us to question the validity of a score and cancel it after a score has been reported.
When scores are canceled by GMAC, score reports may have special notations in the place of actual test scores, indicating the nature of the incident. If a provision in this “Score Cancellations by GMAC” section conflicts with any other term or condition on our website, in any FAQs, or anywhere else, this “Score Cancellations by GMAC” section shall control.
Types of Score Cancellations
Testing Issues – “T”
Scores may be canceled by GMAC, in its sole discretion, due to a “Testing Issue.” A score canceled for a Testing Issue will be noted on the Official Score Report as a “T,” and schools may be notified that the score was cancelled for a Testing Issue. Testing Issues refer to events that affect the administration of an exam. When Testing Issues occur, they may affect multiple test takers.
Reasons scores may be canceled due to a Testing Issue include, but are not limited to:
- Administrative or technical errors
- Registration or payment errors
- An issue that compromises the integrity of the testing environment
- An issue that causes us to question the validity of a score
In the case of a score being canceled for a Testing Issue, GMAC may offer the candidate a remedy, in GMAC’s sole discretion, which may include: (1) the option to retest at no additional charge; (2) the option to retest subject to payment of the testing fee; or (3) a refund of the examination fee, subject to the terms provided by GMAC. If a retest is offered and a candidate selects that option, the candidate must retake the entire exam in order to produce a valid score. GMAC, at its sole discretion, may also require candidates to take or retake the GMAT exam at a test center.
Policy Violations – “P”
Scores may be canceled by GMAC, in its sole discretion, due to a “Policy Violation.” A score canceled for a Policy Violation will be noted on the Official Score Report as a “P” and will result in the candidate’s forfeiture of test fees.
Reasons scores may be canceled due to a Policy Violation include, but are not limited to:
- Accessing unauthorized materials or devices
- Mouthing questions or reading questions out loud
- Failure to follow the test administrator’s instructions
- Disrespectful or disruptive behavior
- Non-compliance with any applicable policy, term, or condition
- An issue that compromises the integrity of the testing environment
- An issue that causes us to question the validity of a score
- Violating retake policies
In the case of a score being canceled for a Policy Violation, GMAC may take appropriate actions against the candidate, in GMAC’s sole discretion, which may include: (1) canceling their score on any or all GMAC assessments; (2) enforcing a minimum 31-day wait to retest; (3) notifying schools; (4) forfeiture of test fees; (5) prohibiting the candidate from taking a GMAC online assessment; (6) banning the candidate from testing for up to five years on all GMAC assessments; and/or (7) taking legal action against the candidate. GMAC, at its sole discretion, may also require candidates to take or retake the GMAT exam at a test center.
Serious Policy Violations – “S”
Scores may be canceled by GMAC, in its sole discretion, due to a “Serious Policy Violation.” A score canceled for a Serious Policy Violation will be noted on the Official Score Report as a “S” and will result in the candidate’s forfeiture of test fees.
Reasons scores may be canceled due to a Serious Policy Violation include, but are not limited to:
- Egregious or repeated instances of the behaviors listed under Policy Violations and/or any of the rules or other terms and conditions referenced in the GMAT Policies and Procedures
- Falsifying the candidate’s identity, identification, score, or score report
- Taking the test for others, having someone take the test on the candidate’s behalf, and/or the use of any programs, applications, or software to answer questions on the test (including, but not limited to, any generative artificial intelligence tools)
- Improperly accessing, recording, copying, or disclosing test content prior to, during, or after the test administration
- Using any unauthorized software or hardware, including, but not limited to, VPN, remote desktop applications, or virtual machines
- Inappropriate or profane behavior towards the test administrator
- Providing fraudulent payment or payment cancellation
- Paying for the test with a fraudulent voucher or a fraudulent waiver
- Any policy violation we deem to be serious non-compliance with any applicable policy, term, or condition
- An issue that compromises the integrity of the testing environment
- An issue that causes us to question the validity of a score
- Failure to comply with the test administrator’s requests to rule out suspicious behaviors and/or any other breach of the rules or other terms and conditions referenced in the GMAT Policies and Procedures
In the case of a score being canceled for a Serious Policy Violation, GMAC may take appropriate actions against the candidate, in GMAC’s sole discretion, which may include: (1) canceling their score on any or all GMAC assessments; (2) enforcing a minimum one-year wait to retest; (3) notifying schools; (4) forfeiture of test fees; (5) prohibiting the candidate from taking a GMAC online assessment; (6) banning the candidate from testing for life on all GMAC assessments; and/or (7) taking legal action against the candidate. GMAC, at its sole discretion, may also require candidates to take or retake the GMAT exam at a test center.
Appeals and Notifications to Schools
If a candidate believes we should review a decision we made about their exam, the candidate may request an appeal by contacting the GMAC Test Security Team. To submit an appeal, reply to the notice received from the GMAC Test Security Team within seven (7) days from the date of GMAC’s original decision. When submitting an appeal, you must provide truthful and complete information and details regarding your test administration. Under certain circumstances, we may shorten or extend the seven (7)-day appeal period. The appeal period will be specified in the notice you receive from the GMAC Test Security Team. After the appeal period expires, the score cancellation decision will be final, and any school you have sent scores to will be notified of this decision. The appeal process is an internal examination, offered to candidates at GMAC’s discretion. GMAC will not disclose information that may hinder test security.
GMAC, in its sole discretion, determines the outcome of an appeal. Outcomes may include denial, reinstatement of the original score, or change in the reason for cancellation, which may include the opportunity to retest.
There are circumstances in which a candidate’s scores may be canceled or withheld without prior notice or an opportunity to appeal. Those circumstances typically involve, but are not limited to, disruptions by the candidate during exam administration, advance disclosure of exam content, and cases in which the candidate is observed violating exam policies and/or is dismissed from the test. In these situations, the candidate may simply be informed that their scores are canceled or invalidated.
IMPORTANT! Scores are canceled if there is a good faith reason to question their validity. GMAC may cancel scores even if the test taker is not directly involved in the policy violation or testing issue.