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Chat Transcript July 27, 2008, 9:31PM EST

Grilling GMAC on the GMAT Cheating Scandal

(page 2 of 3)

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Peg Jöbst
Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)

If you are convinced that you do not fall into the above described categories, you should proceed with your plans.

krajendr: I used a Scoretop VIP subscription, but I never gave or obtained any real, live GMAT questions. Since I got a nonsatisfactory score on my first attempt, I am planning to take GMAT again. Can you please let me know if this is feasible?

GMACPegJ: At this point, you should proceed with your plans to retake the GMAT.

ananth: If a VIP user has only browsed (and perhaps also accessed questions, not knowing that they were live) but has not posted or discussed a single question, are you likely to cancel his score?

GMACPegJ: Not likely, as this does not fall into the categories of investigation discussed earlier.

ananth: Could you give us an approximate time frame when the investigation will likely be completed?

GMACPegJ: We are working as quickly as possible in our investigation. The investigation must be thorough, as we do not take lightly the matter of canceling scores.

dj6501: Would a student be given a chance to explain his or her situation to GMAC before his or her scores are canceled and reported to the school?

GMACPegJ: Test takers have a right to appeal any decision GMAC makes. Test takers will be notified in writing if GMAC is taking action and will have a period of time to appeal the decision.

prash29: I was a VIP member of Scoretop for the month of July 2007. When I read its disclaimer, it was clearly stated that the material is Scoretop's own. I felt there was nothing wrong or illegal. So I took on the membership. Even GMAC did not warn anyone of this site anywhere. I am not aware of JJs or live questions anytime. I never posted anything. I just viewed the material. Please let me know what are the chances that my scores will get canceled?

GMACPegJ: Based on the information you have provided, you are not likely to be part of our investigation.

zurich: Is there any contact person at GMAC to ask about the investigation regarding specific users of Scoretop?

GMACPegJ: A notification of GMAC's decision to cancel a score will include contact information.

mba008: I joined ScoreTop VIP Membership before my second attempt at GMAT. Can you confirm that my first score (before I joined Scoretop VIP membership) will not have any impact, regardless of the investigation results in my case? I have worked so hard and don't want to lose everything for the Scoretop owner's mistakes.

GMACPegJ: Please read the criteria of our investigation described above. If you do not fall into either of the categories mentioned, you should proceed with your plans. The Internet is fraught with land mines, and Scoretop is an example of such. We will continue to pursue the land mines and caution test takers to avoid Web sites that claim to have materials that are active GMAT questions.

dj6501: As per previous reports in BW, around 6,000-plus VIP members were identified. Of these people, approximately how many student scores could be canceled?

GMACPegJ: Until our investigation is complete, it is too soon to speculate on the number of scores affected. We take the cancellation of test scores very seriously.

Rohit_b_20032003: As I read the court's judgment, I understand that GMAC could not prove truly that Scoretop truly threatened the sanctity of the exam. For example, the court says that the plaintiff filed its complaints nearly nine months after the FBI's criminal investigation became public. That delay undercuts the plaintiff's argument that the defendant poses an imminent threat to the integrity of the GMAT exam. Shall we assume that GMAC itself was slow in taking action against Scoretop?

GMACPegJ: GMAC worked with the FBI for several years documenting the evidence necessary to take action. During that time, Lei Shi was warned repeatedly to stop posting live questions to the site.

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