How to Avoid Getting Your GMAT Score Cancelled
The GMAT is stressful enough without worrying about losing your score over a technicality. Every year, plenty of honest test takers — people who aren’t trying to cheat — accidentally break a rule and end up with their score under review or even cancelled.
The good news? With a little bit of preparation, you can avoid these pitfalls entirely. This guide – based entirely on detailed conversations with GMAC’s test security team – explains how GMAT test security works, the most common reasons scores are cancelled, and what to do if it happens to you.
Why GMAT Test Security Matters
Test security ensures that:
- Every GMAT test-taker faces the same conditions
- Nobody gains an unfair advantage
- Schools can evaluate applicants fairly
Every GMAT policy — even the ones that seem unnecessarily picky (like banning chapstick) — comes from someone trying to cheat in the past. Following the rules protects your score and keeps the playing field level for everybody.
Common Mistakes That Lead to GMAT Score Cancellations
Even well-meaning test-takers sometimes slip up. The most common mistakes fall into four categories:
1. Bringing Unauthorized Items
- No chapstick, gum, or snacks in the test room
- No scratch paper – only GMAC-approved whiteboards or noteboards
- No extra devices
2. Using Your Phone
- Phones must be completely out of reach
- You cannot touch your phone, even during breaks
- Simply reaching for it can get your score cancelled
3. Talking to Other People
- Don’t talk to anyone but the proctor
- Even a casual “hi” in the hallway can count as a violation
4. Technical Issues
- At-home GMAT: an unstable internet can trigger a cancellation
- Test center: computer outages are rare, but if they happen, GMAC may terminate the test
Bottom line: read the official GMAT handbook before test day, and treat it like a checklist for what you can and can’t do.
What Does “GMAT Score Under Review” Mean?
If you get an email saying your GMAT test is “under review”:
- Don’t panic. Most of the time, it’s just a technical check or random audit.
- Only a small percentage of reviews result in cancellation.
- It simply means GMAC is taking a closer look.
If Your GMAT Score Is Cancelled
About 94% of the time, schools never see a cancelled score, as long as it was cancelled before reporting.
Only about 6% of cases are visible to schools, and even then they’ll see only a one-letter code (and not the full story):
- T = Testing Issue (technical or minor problem)
- P = Policy Violation (e.g., phone use, talking, unauthorized object)
- S = Serious Policy Violation (reckless or intentional cheating)
Schools generally don’t overreact to T or P codes. S is the one you want to avoid at all costs.
How to Appeal a GMAT Score Cancellation
If you believe your score was cancelled unfairly:
- Email [email protected]
- Real humans (not AI) review every appeal
- Provide as much context as possible
GMAC’s test security team told us directly: if you think it’s unfair, please appeal.
Other Risks to Avoid
- Leaked Questions Online: If someone offers you “real GMAT questions,” don’t take the bait. Most are fake, and legitimate ones get tracked down by GMAC quickly. Using them can result in serious violations.
- Financial Misconduct: GMAC vouchers and fee waivers are non-transferable. Don’t buy or sell them. Likewise, never dispute the test fee with your credit card company after taking the exam — that counts as theft and can result in a score cancellation.
The Bottom Line: Protect Your Score
To avoid getting your GMAT score cancelled:
- Read and follow the GMAT handbook carefully
- Keep your test environment clean and distraction-free
- Never touch your phone, talk to others, or bring unauthorized items
- Appeal if you believe a cancellation was unfair
Remember: most cancellations are avoidable with preparation. Focus on performing your best, and let GMAC’s test security experts handle the cheaters.
For more detail, watch our full video above or review the official GMAT handbook.