GMAT: Online or In-Person?
A student asked me today, “Is the GMAT Online (taking the test at home) better?” My answer was, “I strongly advise against it!” Let me explain why:
1. Technical issues and proctor training problems are still happening. Many test-takers have been unfairly flagged by proctors, and some candidates’ exam times have been extended to 5-6 hours due to these problems.
2. There have been multiple instances of cheating in online exams (from hackers in China, Russia, and India). Furthermore, the online option was merely a temporary solution during lockdowns. With the pandemic over, its necessity has diminished. Consequently, many business schools do not accept GMAT online scores.
Cheating on GMAT Online is a serious problem.
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Cheating in the online format, especially from India and Russia, is a significant issue. This has led to many scores being inexplicably held back, delaying applications, or worse, invalidated. Some schools have even stopped accepting GMAT Online scores altogether.
Here’s a warning from abroad:
A person from India reported that a relative paid 300,000 Indian Rupees (about $3,000 USD) in June 2024 to have someone else take the online GMAT for them, scoring 705. The payment was made only after the score was delivered, which made them feel secure.
However, in December 2024, GMAC froze their score and then canceled it. GMAC explained that they use AI to review all GMAT Online scores above the 90th percentile from the past year and detected this cheating incident.
The individual tried to brush it off, thinking, “Oh well, what isn’t yours will eventually slip away.” But the Mumbai Criminal Investigation Department soon showed up at their door, inviting them for a chat at the police station. The cousin, terrified, immediately fled.
GMAC is actually very strict about preventing cheating and shares information with law enforcement agencies globally (though this isn’t always public knowledge). Don’t look for shortcuts that could ruin your future. It’s far better to come to Dustin GMAT and seriously improve your skills. (I added that last part myself, haha).
Because of this, the GMAT Online review mechanism is also highly sensitive.
The unfortunate test-taker took the online exam at home on February 6th. After finishing, they received an email stating their score was “undergoing review, which could take up to 20 business days” – meaning the score was frozen and couldn’t be sent to any schools until the review was complete.
Two days later, they got another email: “The review found ‘anomalies inconsistent with testing policy terms during the exam,’ therefore ‘the score has been canceled, and online testing is prohibited for one year.’ However, ‘a voucher will be provided for one free in-person test.’”
As a result, this test-taker missed Round 2 and now has to target Round 3.
Later, the test-taker contacted the online testing provider, Examity. Their customer service claimed that according to their records, there were no issues, and then passed the problem back to GMAC.
The current situation is: the test-taker is appealing with GMAC and expects a response within 15 days.
Could you handle that kind of ordeal?
