Frequently Asked Questions: Scoretop.com Web site

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Frequently Asked Questions: Scoretop.com Web site



The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has completed its initial investigation of GMAT test takers using Scoretop.com. Earlier this year, GMAC won a $2.35 million default judgment against the operator of the Web site, who sold access to “real, live” GMAT questions and encouraged test takers to post questions after taking the test. GMAC has identified and canceled the scores of those test takers who either posted live GMAT questions on the Scoretop Web site or wrote a message on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Web site when they took the GMAT exam. In addition, those who posted live questions from their GMAT exam on Scoretop will be prevented from testing again for at least three years. GMAC has also sent notification of the cancellations to the schools to which these test takers sent score reports.
Q. How many test takers had their scores canceled?

A. GMAC canceled the scores of 84 test takers. Twelve had their scores canceled and are suspended from taking the exam for at least three years because they posted live GMAT questions that they saw when they took the GMAT exam on Scoretop.com, and 72 had their scores canceled because they wrote messages on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Web site on their GMAT exam.
Q. Are most of these students from one geographic area?

A. No, test takers around the world are affected.
Q. What gives GMAC the authority to cancel GMAT scores?

A. As the sponsor and owner of the GMAT exam, GMAC owns all test content, including GMAT exam questions. In addition, GMAC has established terms and conditions, including testing policies and procedures, to enhance the testing environment and the validity and security of the GMAT exam. Every test taker must agree to abide by these policies before taking the test. These policies include agreeing not to reproduce, disclose or obtain unauthorized access to test content by any means before, during or after testing.
Q. How is the ban going to work?

A. Test takers who posted questions from their GMAT exam on the Scoretop Web site will not be allowed to take the test for a minimum of three years. After three years, these test takers can request reconsideration to test again, and GMAC will evaluate such requests on a case-by-case basis based on the severity of the offense.
Q. Does this mean that GMAC has completed its investigation, and no more scores will be canceled?

A. GMAC has completed and suspended its initial investigation and is not actively expanding the scope of the investigation. However, security efforts to protect the integrity of the GMAT exam are ongoing. If GMAC receives any additional information about a test taker’s activities on Scoretop, it reserves the right to investigate such information and take appropriate action based on the results.

source:http://www.mba.com

 

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Q. I didn’t do anything with Scoretop other than register. Why was my score canceled?

A. GMAC drew from multiple sources, from a test taker’s posting on Scoretop to his or her unique testing experience, to identify those who posted live test questions or confirmed that they had seen a question on their GMAT exam that had been posted previously on the Scoretop site. GMAC canceled the scores of test takers falling into each of these two categories. The following representative examples are provided for clarification.

Category 1: Those who posted live questions

An extensive analysis of the Scoretop Web site allowed GMAC to identify GMAT test takers who posted GMAT questions. GMAC was able to match the Scoretop.com posting to the question that was included in these test takers' unique, computer adaptive GMAT exams.

For example, Test Taker A posted the following question on Scoretop.com:

Before the elections, the ratio of Republicans to Democrats was 3 to 5. If after the elections it was known that 600 more Republicans and 500 more Democrats voted, the ratio was 4 to 5. How more Democrats were there than Republicans? Well, the substance is there.... Among the answers were 100, 1000, 2500 and two others.

GMAC was able to determine that Test Taker A encountered the following GMAT question on his exam just prior to the Scoretop posting:

In a certain district, the ratio of the number of registered Republicans to the number of registered Democrats was 3/5. After 600 additional Republicans and 500 additional Democrats registered, the ratio was 4/5. After these registrations, there were how many more voters in the district registered as Democrats than as Republicans?

* 100
* 300
* 400
* 1,000
* 2,500

This example shows that the test taker electronically disclosed test content after testing, a violation of GMAC policy.

Category 2: Those who confirmed that they had seen one of the posted questions from Scoretop (a “JJ”) when they took the GMAT

The term "JJ" stands for "Jungle Juice" or "Jijings" ─ slang words for "the real thing." On Scoretop.com. math JJs were called MJJs, and verbal JJs were called VJJs. GMAC traced a test taker’s confirmation of having seen JJs on the Scoretop Web site to his or her actual GMAT exam.

For example, Test Taker B posted the following on Scoretop.com:

Do the JJs thoroughly . They really will help. I got a lot of MJJs. So you can see for yourself that I could not have made it to 700 without MJJs.

GMAC identified two questions that Test Taker B encountered while taking the GMAT exam that were among the “JJs” that GMAC identified on the Scoretop Web site. This confirmation that the test taker electronically obtained unauthorized access to test content before testing represents a violation of GMAC policy.

GMAC has taken no action against those who simply visited the site and did not perform either of the activities cited above.
Q. How do I appeal GMAC's decision to cancel my scores?

A. You can submit information that addresses your concerns to GMAC at [email protected]. Any information you submit will be promptly considered.