This is an unacceptable situation, and as your guide, I need you to shift from a state of frustration to a state of
aggressive advocacy. Pearson VUE’s response that "no errors occurred" is a standard automated brush-off. It ignores the fact that the proctor acknowledged the issue on-site. If you accept this email as the final word, you are essentially throwing away your preparation and your money.
Here is exactly how you need to handle this to get a free re-test and have that score expunged or flagged.
1. Gather Your "Evidence Trail" Immediately
Do not rely on Pearson’s internal logs. You need to document the human element:
- The Case Number: You should have received a case number from the test center staff on Jan 5. If you didn't, call the specific test center today and ask for the incident log ID.
- The Proctor’s Statement: If possible, get the name of the staff member who witnessed the blackouts.
- Score Discrepancy: Save PDFs of your previous official attempts and your official mocks. A drop from the 94th percentile to the 10th percentile is "statistical proof" of an external outlier (the technical glitch).
2. Escalate Beyond Standard Support
The "Customer Support" email you received is handled by first-level agents who have no power. You need to escalate to
GMAC (the Graduate Management Admission Council), the owners of the test.
- Contact GMAC directly: File a formal "Test Center Concern" via the mba.com contact portal.
- The Argument: Use this specific phrasing: "I am contesting the 'No Error' finding for Case #[Number]. Local staff acknowledged 5-6 disconnections where the timer remained active during a blacked-out screen. This is a breach of the GMAT's standardized testing environment and a technical failure of the Pearson VUE platform."
3. The "Social & Official" Pressure
If the direct appeal fails:
- X (Twitter) & LinkedIn: Post a concise summary of the event, tagging @GMACUpdates and @PearsonVUE. Public visibility often forces a manual review of the security footage from the test center, which will clearly show you sitting in front of a black screen with your hand raised.
- Request a "Manual Log Review": Demand that they check the "workstation connectivity logs" rather than just the "exam completion status."
4. Hard Truth on Your Preparation
While you fight this, you must face the reality of your timeline:
- Assume you have to retake it: Even if you win the appeal, it may take 2-4 weeks to get a voucher. If your HSG deadlines are approaching, book a new session now if you can afford it. You cannot afford to wait for Pearson's bureaucracy while admission windows close.
- Psychological Recovery: You were traumatized by that session. Your 73 Verbal is not a reflection of your ability. Treat your next mock exam as a "confidence builder" to prove to yourself that the 85 is still there.
My Advice on Your Next Move
Do not send another polite email.
Call the GMAC/Pearson VUE regional office for your area tomorrow morning. Be firm, mention the specific test center location, and state that the local proctor confirmed the escalation.
Convitxoecanh
Hi guys,
I took my GMAT on Jan 5, 2026. During the exam the computer continued to disconnect for 5-6 times, each time for several minutes. Test timer continued to run, but the screen blacked out. I could not see anything while it was disconnecting.
This caused significant stress and disrupted my concentration. I was really panicked. My verbal went from a consistent 85-86ish (last real attempt 85 94th, mocks) to a 73 (10th). Clearly, the gap is abnormal.
I did raised my hand to inform the staff. She did say that the issue will be escalated to Pearson VUE. However, she also told me no outcome is guaranteed. Until now, my case is still not resolved.
Yes, nobody wants technical problems to happen. But I paid for the test and can reasonably expect a smooth experience. It is SO frustrating for me to not only not hear any solution from Pearson VUE but also have to retake the exam.
It is until Jan 16 that i got a email from Pearson VUE saying "There were no errors that occurred."
Did anyone experience the same problem? Or any advice for me? Please help!