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02 Feb 2026, 11:37
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I just want to share my experience with you guys in case it comes in handy with future test takers and get absolutely any advice you might have to offer.
First, I took my GMAT FE exam at test center, but at Data Sufficiency section, one of the question had duplicate answers (of the correct choice), I reread the question and answer just to make sure that was the correct one, notified the proctor, he told me he'd check, went away for 5 minutes and returned with no answer, just recommended me to reach out to GMAC later. Unfortunately, during all that, I lost 10 minutes of my exam time and got a horrible score (565) compared to what I was getting doing official mock test (715-735).
I reached out to GMAC who then redirected me to PearsonVUE, after almost a month of waiting, they told me that I couldn't retake the exam for free because there was no technical difficulty with the exam haha.
I paid the exam fee again, and there was no test center dates available at all, so I opted to write an online exam. I live alone so the setup of everything was quite easy.
In the middle of the exam, the testing interface froze completely. I was unable to select answer choices or use the “Call the Proctor” function, the system was completely unresponsive, none of the buttons worked. I repeatedly attempted to call out to the proctor while remaining seated and visible on camera as I knew that he should have heard me even without call the proctor button, but received no response. The screen remained frozen and unresponsive, I got nothing from proctor either. After 5-10 minutes with no system recovery and no proctor contact, I stood up while holding my laptop so that I remained visible to the camera at all times. I took a few steps only to visually check the Wi-Fi router, which was not visible from my seat, to confirm whether the internet connection had failed. The router didn’t blink red, so I immediately returned to my seat with the laptop still in hand. I then waited several additional minutes, still unable to interact with the exam or reach the proctor, very nervous, but continuing to try to communicate and call out to proctor.
After a while, I thought that the exam session was irrecoverable and concerned that exam time could still be running. I remembered that during emergencies I should call their number, so I stood up again to retrieve a printed copy of my confirmation email in order to locate the GMAC contact number, as instructed for emergencies (I didn't touch my phone still). While searching for the number, I heard the proctor’s voice and returned immediately to my seat.
The proctor re-established communication, conducted a full recheck of my environment and identity, and explicitly instructed me that we could continue the exam. I was glad that it turned out that exam timer had also stopped running while the system was frozen, and the proctor paused the exam for the recheck. I explained to the proctor about what happened and he told me everything was ok and that I could resume my exam. I then completed the remainder of the test under supervision, normally. Although I still got less score than I was getting with my practice exams 675 compared to 735, and I honestly blame the stress for it cause I might have had 2 mini heart attacks or so during the glitch, the deadlines were approaching and it is a good score still. A couple of days later, I got an email that my score was undergoing a routine security check, and that check took 15 business days, making me miss most of my deadlines for the round 2.
Today, I got an email from GMAC that my score had been cancelled and that I got banned from taking any exam offered by GMAC for 5 years, because they "detected proxy activities during my exam" which I genuinely don't know what they mean by that. I obviously appealed their decision and explained what had happened and requested for them to view the whole video and audio recording, as well as the screen recording, showing my behavior during the system glitch.
Honestly, I'm not much hopeful about the results of all of this, as I've read that the appeals very rarely yield favorable decisions. I just wanted to share my story for folks in the future who plan on taking this exam. I genuinely don't know what I should've done better to be less suspicious, as I really thought that the system shut down completely and didn't expect it to miraculously fix itself after 15-20 minutes. What did they expect me to do, to sit there for so long without a worry doing absolutely nothing?
First, I took my GMAT FE exam at test center, but at Data Sufficiency section, one of the question had duplicate answers (of the correct choice), I reread the question and answer just to make sure that was the correct one, notified the proctor, he told me he'd check, went away for 5 minutes and returned with no answer, just recommended me to reach out to GMAC later. Unfortunately, during all that, I lost 10 minutes of my exam time and got a horrible score (565) compared to what I was getting doing official mock test (715-735).
I reached out to GMAC who then redirected me to PearsonVUE, after almost a month of waiting, they told me that I couldn't retake the exam for free because there was no technical difficulty with the exam haha.
I paid the exam fee again, and there was no test center dates available at all, so I opted to write an online exam. I live alone so the setup of everything was quite easy.
In the middle of the exam, the testing interface froze completely. I was unable to select answer choices or use the “Call the Proctor” function, the system was completely unresponsive, none of the buttons worked. I repeatedly attempted to call out to the proctor while remaining seated and visible on camera as I knew that he should have heard me even without call the proctor button, but received no response. The screen remained frozen and unresponsive, I got nothing from proctor either. After 5-10 minutes with no system recovery and no proctor contact, I stood up while holding my laptop so that I remained visible to the camera at all times. I took a few steps only to visually check the Wi-Fi router, which was not visible from my seat, to confirm whether the internet connection had failed. The router didn’t blink red, so I immediately returned to my seat with the laptop still in hand. I then waited several additional minutes, still unable to interact with the exam or reach the proctor, very nervous, but continuing to try to communicate and call out to proctor.
After a while, I thought that the exam session was irrecoverable and concerned that exam time could still be running. I remembered that during emergencies I should call their number, so I stood up again to retrieve a printed copy of my confirmation email in order to locate the GMAC contact number, as instructed for emergencies (I didn't touch my phone still). While searching for the number, I heard the proctor’s voice and returned immediately to my seat.
The proctor re-established communication, conducted a full recheck of my environment and identity, and explicitly instructed me that we could continue the exam. I was glad that it turned out that exam timer had also stopped running while the system was frozen, and the proctor paused the exam for the recheck. I explained to the proctor about what happened and he told me everything was ok and that I could resume my exam. I then completed the remainder of the test under supervision, normally. Although I still got less score than I was getting with my practice exams 675 compared to 735, and I honestly blame the stress for it cause I might have had 2 mini heart attacks or so during the glitch, the deadlines were approaching and it is a good score still. A couple of days later, I got an email that my score was undergoing a routine security check, and that check took 15 business days, making me miss most of my deadlines for the round 2.
Today, I got an email from GMAC that my score had been cancelled and that I got banned from taking any exam offered by GMAC for 5 years, because they "detected proxy activities during my exam" which I genuinely don't know what they mean by that. I obviously appealed their decision and explained what had happened and requested for them to view the whole video and audio recording, as well as the screen recording, showing my behavior during the system glitch.
Honestly, I'm not much hopeful about the results of all of this, as I've read that the appeals very rarely yield favorable decisions. I just wanted to share my story for folks in the future who plan on taking this exam. I genuinely don't know what I should've done better to be less suspicious, as I really thought that the system shut down completely and didn't expect it to miraculously fix itself after 15-20 minutes. What did they expect me to do, to sit there for so long without a worry doing absolutely nothing?
16 Feb 2026, 09:39
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Bookmarks
Update:
The appeal didn’t yield anything, they replied that their decision was final. I asked what was the reason for the cancellation too as I truly can’t believe how “proxy testing” was present in my case, but I didn’t get any information out of them about that as well. Such a huge injustice, and being this closed-door, lacking transparency in the decisions that affect people’s futures in a huge way is just unacceptable. Their program froze, I followed the protocol as stated on their website, and still got banned for 5 years 🙂.
The appeal didn’t yield anything, they replied that their decision was final. I asked what was the reason for the cancellation too as I truly can’t believe how “proxy testing” was present in my case, but I didn’t get any information out of them about that as well. Such a huge injustice, and being this closed-door, lacking transparency in the decisions that affect people’s futures in a huge way is just unacceptable. Their program froze, I followed the protocol as stated on their website, and still got banned for 5 years 🙂.
17 Feb 2026, 03:23
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Hi luka20021,
I am so sorry to hear this, and this is quite unprofessional. I attempted my test at a Pearson test center and even my screen froze toward the end with an internet connectivity issue, which led me to panic. Luckily, my proctor was able to restart the system within a minute and it got back to normal, but I still ended up losing concentration and making some careless mistakes toward the end. Someone recently also raised a question about duplicate answer options, and I wasn’t sure if that was an experimental question that wasn’t tested properly or something else.
I feel these tests are not always solid proof, and I have read similar experiences from other test takers in the past. I even notified this to the GMAC product team during one of their feedback calls. I don’t think there’s much you could have done differently in either case, but a ban is a very harsh step, especially when they could have verified things during the appeal. Again, those decisions hardly go in candidates’ favor.
You can try reaching out to this person from GMAC who is quite active on social forums: https://www.reddit.com/user/GMACzach/. Otherwise, it might be worth considering switching to the GRE since most schools accept that score.
I am so sorry to hear this, and this is quite unprofessional. I attempted my test at a Pearson test center and even my screen froze toward the end with an internet connectivity issue, which led me to panic. Luckily, my proctor was able to restart the system within a minute and it got back to normal, but I still ended up losing concentration and making some careless mistakes toward the end. Someone recently also raised a question about duplicate answer options, and I wasn’t sure if that was an experimental question that wasn’t tested properly or something else.
I feel these tests are not always solid proof, and I have read similar experiences from other test takers in the past. I even notified this to the GMAC product team during one of their feedback calls. I don’t think there’s much you could have done differently in either case, but a ban is a very harsh step, especially when they could have verified things during the appeal. Again, those decisions hardly go in candidates’ favor.
You can try reaching out to this person from GMAC who is quite active on social forums: https://www.reddit.com/user/GMACzach/. Otherwise, it might be worth considering switching to the GRE since most schools accept that score.
