HELP! Is this considered a testing violation?

Question

Hi everyone,

I just took the GMAT for the second time today and was so excited when I saw my score (750!!!!) that I quickly accepted it and got up and walked over to the door. You can imagine that my heart completely sank when the proctor told me that I had just made a testing violation by getting up without calling her over first and that my score might end up getting cancelled!! Now I'm freaking out and don't know what to do other than wait and see what happens when I get my official score report...

Does anyone have any experience with this or know whether standing up at the end of the exam after you've already accepted your score is considered a violation that would result in score cancellation?

Any advice would be very helpful!!!

AjiteshArun · Answer

You should be fine. Although a test taker is supposed to call the proctor first, this would be a  particularly  bad reason to cancel his or her score. I think you'll get your official score report soon (normally in less than a week).

Congratulations on the 750!

ms22 · Answer

AjiteshArun  Thank you! I'm just really nervous because the proctor was clearly not in a very good mood because no matter how many times I apologized, she just kept repeating to me that I had committed a testing violation and that the GMAC would be reviewing the video footage so I'm assuming that means she's reporting me?

AjiteshArun · Answer

Technically, she's correct: you had agreed not to get up from your seat without being escorted by a proctor when you signed the GMAT agreement. If they decide to go strictly by that agreement, your score will be cancelled. However, you did not bring anything into the testing room, nor did you access anything (like books, a phone, water, food...) during your exam. Moreover, your exam was over when you got up, and you did not disturb any other test taker while leaving the testing room. This means any cancellation will be purely to "go by the rules" and not to prevent the use of unfair means.

I can understand why you're feeling a little nervous right now. Try not to think too much about what could happen, as there is really no way to know how strictly they'll apply that rule. Hope that this goes your way, but be prepared to take the exam again.

bb · Answer

Wow. Sorry to hear about that... I can imagine why you did it and it would be very surprising if GMAC would cancel your score. I am definitely with you.

DigitsnLetters · Answer

Whoa! It would be a bummer if your score gets cancelled. That said, as correctly pointed out by above posts, this is more of a play by rules vs ehtically what's correct sort of a decision. I hope the decision is in your favour. All the best

And yes, update us on the decision you get. Might as well serve as a caution case for other GMAT takers.

pvs29 · Answer

Congratulations on the 750!

As for the violation, I really hope they see through the rule book and understand the intention. Best of luck! Let's hope for the best (*fingers crossed*)

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ms22,

Assuming that the proctor actually did report you for this 'violation', GMAC will need time to properly investigate this 'incident.' Since it took place AFTER you had completed the GMAT, there's likely nothing to worry about, unless you were doing anything to disrupt anyone else's Exams (for example, were you jumping around and screaming because you were so excited? Assuming that you did not do that, then you're likely fine). It might be a couple of weeks before you hear back regarding GMACs assessment of the situation, but this doesn't sound like any type of actual offense, so I'd be surprised if your Score was voided.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

At this point, you just need to see what happens. Let us know when you have an answer either way.

ms22 · Answer

Hi  EMPOWERgmatRichC  - No jumping or screaming whatsoever! I was just so ecstatic that it completely skipped my mind after I had accepted my score that I was supposed to call over the proctor and my knee jerk reaction was just to gather my things (ID and locker key) and walk over to the door.

(Might I add that the more I think about it... I can't imagine I'm the only person of the 200,000+ people that take the GMAT every year to have the knee jerk reaction to stand up after it's over and they've accepted their score)

If the GMAC is actually investigating this, does that mean that I won't receive an official score report this week? Or will I receive one and then receive notice later on if there's some sort of problem? I'm so nervous and I keep mentally beating myself up over how stupid of a mistake I made!

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi ms22,

It's possible that the proctor didn't actually file your 'infraction.' You should have a clearer idea within a week-or-so though (depending on whether you see an Official Score listed in your profile or not). If you have not heard anything in 2 weeks time, then you might want to consider contacting GMAC directly and asking.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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HELP! Is this considered a testing violation?

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