Cheating on the GMAT
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For the vast majority of people out there, cheating on any test is simply not an option. Not so much because it isn’t possible, but because it isn’t ethical. In 2008, GMAC (the makers of the GMAT) was awarded a $2.3 million judgment against a website that charged would-be test-takers $30 for a peak at live GMAT questions. (This situation reminds me of my own recent troubles…) Here’s a quick summary of what happened to those folks that didn’t let scruples get in their way:
“GMAC said any students found to have used the Scoretop site will have their test scores canceled, the schools that received them will be notified, and the student will not be permitted to take the test again. Since most top B-schools require the GMAT, the students will have little chance of enrolling. ‘This is illegal,’ said Judy Phair, GMAC’s vice-president for communications. ‘We have a hard drive, and we’re going to be analyzing it. If you used the site and paid your $30 to cheat, your scores will be canceled. They’re in big trouble.’”
This isn’t the last time something like this happened either. At the end of 2009, GMAC won a court case in China against a similar website. This was the organization’s second legal victory in China and the result of one of many official complaints filed with the Chinese copyright office.
As one can imagine, the integrity of the GMAT is the top priority of the Graduate Management Admissions Council. Illegal or otherwise surreptitious and unethical breaches of acceptable conduct will rightfully be met with stern and sweeping response. One result of the U.S.’s 2008 scandal was a FAQ posted on GMAC.org discussing the issue of cheating on their test. Here’s one Q&A worth reading immediately:
Q: How can students know what test prep material is legitimate and what’s fishy?
A: Any test preparation organization advertising “real GMAT items” is guilty of lying, stealing or both. In preparing to take the GMAT test, potential test takers should steer clear of these organizations as they can be harmful to their future. There are many reputable test preparation organizations available that do not make these claims.
Written by Lucas Weingarten, Kaplan GMAT instructor.
