Update on GMAT Cheating Scandal

Read on for the information directly from GMAC. Nice initiative taken by Business Week. - Sana

The Graduate Management Admission Council's Peg Jöbst fields questions about whose test scores will be canceled

Recent MBA students and applicants have had lots of questions since the Graduate Management Admission Council won a lawsuit against Scoretop.com (BusinessWeek.com, 7/1/08), a Web site that was allegedly providing live General Management Admission Test questions to VIP subscribers. The students want to know why GMAC never warned them that this service was against the rules. They also want to know whose scores will be canceled and what their ultimate punishment will be (BusinessWeek.com, 7/13/08)>.

Peg Jöbst, senior vice-president of GMAC, recently responded to such questions from the public and from BusinessWeek reporter Francesca Di Meglio during a live chat event. Here are edited excerpts from their conversation:

FrancescaBW: Peg, I thought you could first give us a brief overview of what has happened and the role GMAC is playing in this cheating scandal.

GMACPegJ: Certainly, Francesca. The Graduate Management Admission Council was awarded a $2.35 million judgment by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in a copyright infringement case against the operator of Scoretop.com, a U.S.-based Web site that sold access to questions used on the GMAT exam. GMAC seized the site's domain name on June 20, shut down the site, and obtained a hard drive containing subscriber information.

GMAC goes after those who try to cheat on the GMAT exam, because the council has an ethical responsibility to business schools and students to protect the integrity of the application process. GMAC sued Lei Shi and others who operated Scoretop.com, which offered forums where visitors could share information about the GMAT. The site promoted VIP memberships—$30 for 30 days of access—in which users were encouraged to read and post "JJs," for "jungle juice," the Web site's jargon for live GMAT questions.

FrancescaBW: What can subscribers and users of Scoretop expect to happen next?

GMACPegJ: GMAC is limiting its investigation to those individuals who a) posted GMAT questions they saw on their GMAT exam, and b) posted a message on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Scoretop Web site on their GMAT exam. In these instances, GMAC will cancel GMAT scores and notify schools to which those scores were sent.

saurabh_iiita: I have registered as a VIP member, but I never used or saw live questions, etc. What are the implications for me?

GMACPegJ: Based on what you have described, you would not fall into the category of those individuals we are investigating.

sarithababu: Do you have any comments about the pre-September 2006 version of the site and its users, vs. post-September 2006?

GMACPegJ: Our investigation criteria are not tied to versions of the site.

sarithababu: I got that dreaded e-mail. I was a VIP member. I discussed a few questions with no knowledge (still) of whether I am in violation. I am starting school this fall. I have left my job and planned my move. Should I put everything on hold and wait for your verdict on my case? Or go through the ordeal hoping GMAC will clear my name? In a way. it is none of GMAC's business. but this is what is on the minds of numerous students caught up in this mess, so if you can humanely provide response to this, it will be [appreciated].

GMACPegJ: GMAC is limiting its investigation to those individuals who a) posted GMAT questions they saw on their GMAT exam, and b) posted a message on Scoretop confirming that they saw items from the Scoretop Web site on their GMAT exam.

We realize candidates take the process of admissions and preparation for the GMAT very seriously. It is hard work.

For complete transcript, visit http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/content/jul2008/bs20080727_833217.htm