Appealing Cancelled Online GMAT

Very interesting to read this thread about GMAC cancelling scores after the test had been successfully completed (as per proctor confirmation). I'll just add that a proctor confirmation doesn't hold too much water.

GMAC test security can cancel the score later if, in their opinion, a testing violation has occured. The interesting and somewhat concerning part about this is that GMAC has explicitly stated that they can cancel the score even if they could not find that the testtaker was directly involved in the alleged violation. Whe I can understand situations where this might be helpful to their side to preserve such an avenue, in other cases, I can see where the testtaker would have little recourse because the reason is not given. Since GMAC has reinstated some of the cancelled scores, we can assume that the alleged violation was a false flag.

If GMAC wants to be considered as a serious professional agency, it should provide more clear policies that both testtakers and schools can feel satisfied with. Currently, there is too much discretion left with them.

Schools, agencies and testtakers can press GMAC to make changes. GMAC is directly run by consortium of schools, so they may be amenable to suggestions. On the other hand, I see all too often that such agencies are given too much leeway in assumptions that these agencies know what they are doing. Not very clear that this assumption is justified in light of the above stories.

I wouldn't suggest anyone to wear earplugs or sport any unusual attire. The proctors' assurance will not count for much when Test Security teams review and deem these attires to be violations. Unfortunately, uncontrolled noises coming from outside the testtakers' rooms can also be considered to be violations. This is a big problem in regions with loud street noises.

Test security can take at least 30 days to review. And they will not divulge or respond, even to their own employees who answer emails. So be patient.

Lastly, for many PhD programs, official test scores *must* be received by the deadlines for the application to be considered complete. Otherwise, the applications may not be considered. There are very few exceptions to this rule. Not sure how these programs consider late scores that were reinstated.