Cancellation of GMAT Scores

Voluntary Cancellation of GMAT Scores

Students who take the GMAT will receive unofficial total scores and section scores for verbal, quantitative, and integrated reasoning immediately after finishing the test or at the conclusion of the testing period (analytical writing is graded at a later date). Test-takers are given two minutes to either accept their scores or cancel them for any reason (cancellation is the default action if students do not enter a response in the allotted time). Students who cancel their scores are not given a hard copy of their unofficial score report, and cannot access these scores through their online GMAC accounts. GMAT scores may also be voluntarily cancelled up to 72 hours after the test for a fee of $25. This is accomplished via the student's user account on mba.com. Voluntarily cancelled GMAT scores do not appear on score reports sent to business schools. Registration fees are non-refundable for students choosing to cancel their scores. Voluntarily cancelled scores may be reinstated if the GMAT was taken in 2014 or later, and reinstatement is available up to four years and 11 months from the test date.

Cancellation or Rescheduling of GMAT Registration

GMAT registration cancelled more than 7 days before the test date results in either a rescheduling fee of $50 (for students who still wish to take the test) or a partial refund of $80 (for students who decide not to take the GMAT at all). No refund is given for cancellation 7 or fewer days before a GMAT registration, and the full registration fee is then applicable for rescheduling. Cancellation or rescheduling can be completed either online or by phone.

Involuntary Cancellation of GMAT Scores

GMAT scores are only reported for test-takers who follow all GMAC policies, procedures, and test center rules. GMAT scores may be involuntarily cancelled for "policy violations" and "serious policy violations" (which will be shown as "P" and "S" respectively on official score reports for five years). Policy violations include accessing electronic devices or study guides, improper storage of materials, or being in possession of other unauthorized items in the test center. Examples of serious policy violations are disrupting other test-takers, falsifying score reports, taking the test on behalf of another person, revealing test content, or payment fraud. Policy violations generally result in revocation of scores, notification of schools, and testing bans of one to three years, depending on the severity of the offense. Serious policy violations generate all of the same consequences, but with longer testing bans (a minimum of one year and a maximum of life). Students taking the GMAT should make every effort to learn and follow all applicable policies in order to ensure that their scores are not cancelled involuntarily.

GMAT Score Cancellation for Testing Issues

GMAT scores that are cancelled because of testing issues will be designated "T" on official score reports. Testing issues are generally beyond the control of the individual student, and can include administrative errors, registration or payment mistakes, accidental disclosure of test content, or disruptions at the test center (e.g. extreme weather or loss of power). The testing issue category is also sometimes used as an interim designation when there is a suspected policy violation, as in cases of unusual answer patterns, extreme score changes, or wildly inconsistent sectional scores. Official score reports will display a "T" while the matter is being investigated by GMAC, and will be later revised to reflect the outcome of that investigation. Test-takers whose scores are cancelled due to testing issues will be offered a retest free of charge or a refund. Students have 15 days from the test date to make this decision, and retests can be scheduled as far as six months in advance.

Making Decisions on Score Cancellation

Voluntarily cancelled GMAT scores do not appear on official score reports. However, test-takers should consider business school application deadlines, the 16-day waiting period for retests, and the maximum of five GMAT attempts in a one-year period before deciding whether or not to cancel disappointing scores. Ideally, this decision should be made before the test is taken. Many admissions consultants advise their clients to assume that they will take the GMAT at least twice, and to plan their business school applications around two test dates rather than one. In many cases, this is good advice, especially for international students who may be unfamiliar with testing procedures in the United States. Other plausible reasons for the voluntary cancellation of scores can include sudden health problems or instances of physical discomfort, which can adversely affect performance on the test. Students considering score cancellation should remember the associated costs. Between fees for re-registration and transportation expenses, retesting can have a significant financial impact.