Totally unexpected 620 (48Q 27V)

Question

Hi all,

I took my test today at the center and came out with 620 (48Q 27V). I was mad not at myself, but at the center. 

I start out my test with great mood. My analysis or argument and issue essays questions are both happened to be the ones I have prepared for it the night before and I have read sample essays for that. I did those essays with great confidence and I am that I will score either 5 or 6. When the math section starts, everything went fine as well. As I am always good at math (my practice scores have always been 50 and with MGMAT math I got 48), I am so confident that I am going to do well. However, the unexpected happened. As I start to click on the next button to go to question 15, the whole testing center lost power. Since I am the only one taking GMAT today at the center, they put me in a special room with only myself in it. At first I like this setting so much because I can even read out the questions (I do have this habit). After lost power, everything went black. I feel in a sudden I became blind. (To add this to my story, I just had eye surgery not long ago in July and I have a history of eye problem and my eye doctor did told me the possibility of being blind maybe later in my life. ) I felt so hopeless and scared. I started crying. Then, the lights came back and computer reboots. 
Finally when they log me back into my session, I lost about 15 minutes in the math section. Somehow they couldn't restore the clock. I was unable to finish about 5 math questions. Actually, I am still proud of my math score with short of 15 minutes. I think many people would dream about my math score. I think with 15 more minutes, I could've got 50 or 51. 

Then because of the "poor" math performance, it directly effects my verbal performance. I cannot concerntrate at all. 

Now, I will have to take the test again. But I am going to protest to Pearson Vue. It is not my fault that I lost 15 minutes in the math section. At least I will demand to take the test again for free.

I am so tired.

seofah · Answer

all credit to you eileen! 
You have been unlucky with this power blackout.
I am sure you will do well next month!
No feel downs!

dabots · Answer

im sorry to hear about the blackout. ive heard pearson vue is pretty responsive in canceling scores and giving free tests due to such circumstances. you did great on the math anyway, good luck next time!

r019h · Answer

how unfair! I dream of your quant score. :lol:

make sure pearson vue lets you take it for free, the blackout was not your fault!!! good luck, keep us posted.

beckee529 · Answer

Yikes so sorry to hear about that! I'm sure under different circumstances, you'll do even better!! (on both sections) :good

kevincan · Answer

Wow! A 48 Quant not answering the last 5 questions! You're going to do great!

trahul4 · Answer

With all that fuss you mentioned you still pulledo ff a 48 in Q . Thats great. Second time you are gonig to make it 51

Yes, you need to retake and make Pearson to allow you to take it for free. Goodluck.

gluon · Answer

I am not sure what the procedure for filing a complaint is, but whatever it is dont let Pearson - Vue off the hook. This kind of experience is inexcusable. People demand another test for free for much less disruption than this.

bkk145 · Answer

wow, what an experience. I have never heard anything like it. The score obviously doesn't reflect your performance. If I were you, I would protest and have PV take down that score as the official record since it is unfair...that way, you can have more shot at GMAT without looking bad.

Nice work on math though, 48 with 15 mins less is absolutely awesome!

nevergiveup · Answer

Well, I called Pearson Vue today in hope to schedule another test and take it for free. They did say they will look into my incident. Great then another thing popped up. The guy who answered the phone mentioned that my finger print at the testcenter doesn't match with my profile. That's just great. How can this ever happen to me? If my finger print doesn't match, they won't even let me in the test center that day, won't they? I am so confused. Now, I don't know how much of this I can still take. I am about to explode.

beckee529 · Answer

yikes.. that's horrible! are you planning to apply for fall 2008? :shock:

like the others have said, DONT LET THEM OFF THE HOOK! and you obviously have the potential to score much higher so your first score shouldn't be official... good luck with getting everything resolved

anonymousegmat · Answer

if i were you i would have just cancelled my scores and asked for a refund when this all happened, but it is too late for that. time for damage control. i would push them to retroactively cancel... and pressure them to purge that you ever took the test. *make a big stink over this.* at least get them to cancel the scores... you can always explain to adcom what happened the first time you took the test. your Q score totally rocked given the circumstances.. 

taking the test again for free, of course, should be part of your demands.

assuming you are in the US:

immediately call the B.B.B. and State Attorney General to file a complaint.
you might have to do this at whatever jurisdiction Pvue is headquartered in, not the actual test center. you might have to do both. they will be able to explain more.

keep the paperwork for everything. let PVue know you are doing this, and that you mean serious business and you are going to fight this till the bitter end. CC every single person you can get a physical address and an email address at Pvue with every piece of communication you have with B.B.B and the State Attorney General. Get the name and address of someone important at GMAC and CC them with everything too.

don't let them **** with you because there fingerprint scanner is **** up. you have a valid photo id. they have your signature. they took your snapshot. they have everything they need...

good luck.

GMATBLACKBELT · Answer

Wow 48! even w/ a power outage! thats awsome. Don't worry you'll get 750+ next month for sure!

nevergiveup · Answer

Finally, I got all the issues resolved with Pearson Vue. I am able to retake the exam for free and they agreed to cancel my score as well. However, there are no seats left for September. I have to wait until the end of October to take my exam again. I guess that will give me some more time to study. But I might not be able to catch the application round for fall 2008. I heard there is no point to apply in round 3. I am not sure if I can catch the round 2 deadlines. All the round 2 seems have Jan. deadlines. I haven't start any of the processes yet.

anonymousegmat · Answer

you should be able to make january deadlines, just start writing the essays and getting everything put together now (unless you were letting your GMAT score dictate where you were going to apply)

amberhuria · Answer

Hi, 

I took the GMAT in August in New Delhi. Same score - same issue 620 (Q36, V40). A power outage during my math section - again around 15 minutes or so and I knew my concentarion was totally thrown off by then. Anyways, I did not complain till I went back home and then lodged a complaint via email. (I scored a 690 and 710 in my powerpreps, so I know this is nowhere near my best effort - in fact I scored a 640 in my diagnostic; without any preparation!)

Pearson and GMAC have allowed me to re-take at no additional cost but not cancelled my scores (I have been excahnging emails with them for over a month now and so have accepted their decision). I wish I was in the U.S. -would have sued them!!

Anyways, all the best for your re-take. Seems like you can teach me a coupld of tricks on the quant section

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Totally unexpected 620 (48Q 27V)

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