You are probably worried about your first GMAT attempt and the possibility of a low score. After all, it stands to reason that your first attempt may not get you the score you desire. However, remember that you do have an option to cancel your GMAT score if it is far below what you had in mind.

Many people know that they can cancel their GMAT score, but sadly there is a lot of misinformation regarding what it means to do so. Hence, in this article, I will try to answer some of the most common questions students have regarding score cancellation.

What happens if I cancel my GMAT scores?

At the end of the test, you will be shown your unofficial GMAT scores. This unofficial score includes the verbal, quantitative and Integrated reasoning scores. When this unofficial score appears on your screen, you will be given 2 minutes to make a decision to either cancel or accept the score.

If you decide to cancel your score, none of the schools you selected will receive the score. Moreover, you will not receive a printed copy of your unofficial scores at the test centre. Lastly, you will not be able to access your official score report.

How to cancel GMAT scores?

There are two ways to cancel your GMAT score. The first one is only possible when you are at the test centre after you have finished taking the test. At the end of the test, you will be shown an unofficial score with the option to either cancel or accept it. You can then decide whether you want to keep the score or cancel it, but you only have two minutes to make that decision. If you want to cancel, you will click on the cancel button, and that’s that.

Now let’s say you chose to keep the score at the test centre but later decide to cancel it. This is the second method, and it works by logging into your mba.com account and finding the relevant option to cancel.

However, beware of two things:

Firstly, you only have 72 hours to cancel your score online after the test day but in this case you will have to pay a small fee. And secondly, if you order an additional score report, you won’t be able to cancel your score online.

When to cancel GMAT scores?

If you are a first-timer and score less than what you had in mind, your instincts will tell you to cancel and start anew. However, I think that you should have a clear understanding of what you want to do before test day. You will be mentally exhausted by the end of the test, and seeing a low score might elicit an emotional response. You don’t want to make irrational decisions, so you should know beforehand what you should do.

I would suggest that you should only cancel your score if it is 20-30 points below your target score. You don’t want to cancel a slightly lower score because what if something happens and you are unable to retake the test before the deadline. In some instances, having a low score is better than not having one at all.

Is there any GMAT score cancellation fee?

As I mentioned previously, there are two ways to cancel your GMAT score. The first way is to cancel it at the end of the test while you are still at the test centre. And the second way is to cancel it online within 72 hours.

If you decide to cancel at the test centre, then you will not be charged any cancellation fees. If you want to cancel online after the test, then you will have to pay a $25 cancellation fee.

Can I cancel GMAT scores after I step out of the exam centre?

Yes, if you choose to keep your score at the test centre but later decide you want to cancel it, you can do so from your mba.com account online. However, keep in mind that you only have 72 hours to cancel the score online. And it will cost you a $25 cancellation fee.

Another thing to be aware of is that if you order an Additional Score Report within the 72-hour cancellation period, you will not be able to cancel your score online.

Can I reinstate my GMAT scores after cancelling them?

So you didn’t like your initial score and decided to cancel only to regret this decision later. Now what? Well, the good news is that you can reinstate a previously cancelled score from your MBA.com account. This option is available for four years and 11 months after your test date.

However, keep in mind that it costs $10 to reinstate a previously cancelled score.

Do schools see cancelled GMAT scores?

Once you cancel your GMAT score, no school will ever know that you cancelled your score. However, don’t worry if you see your cancelled scores on your official score report for a later test. This is normal, and only you can see your cancelled scores. Schools wouldn’t even know that you took the GMAT previously if you cancelled your score, as the report they receive is different.

Moreover, if you reinstate a previously cancelled score, schools won’t see that the score was ever cancelled.

What is the minimum score below which I should retake the GMAT?

According to a report published by GMAC titled “Examinees retaking the GMAT”, those who score 600 or below have the highest chance of improvement. This can be simply be attributed to the fact that initial improvement is always easier to achieve.

For example, the amount of time and effort required to go from 550 to 650 is not the same as going from 650 to 750. Improving past the 700-mark becomes increasingly difficult as the margin of error shrinks considerably.

On the other hand, improving a 600 or a lower score is entirely doable even for average students, given that they reevaluate their study routine and materials.

That being said, another factor that might prompt you to retake the test is if you have a considerably low score than the average score of your school. If the school you are applying to has an average GMAT score of 750 and you scored below 700, then retaking it might be the right thing.

You need to be realistic about how much can you improve. Ask yourself whether you have the time and resources to give it another three months. If you really want to get into that particular school, your only option might be to retake it. If not, then you can always apply to other less competitive schools and keep your options open.

Hence, in short, retake the test if you score below 600 as you have the highest scope of improvement at that level. If the school you are applying to is competitive and your score is far below its average GMAT score, then retaking the test might be the right option for you.