Scoretop GMAT Scandal: Did You Drink the Jungle Juice?
By BankersBall on Jun 29, 2008 in Cube Life
It appears that not all VIP members of GMAT prep site Scoretop will be targeted. While GMAC’s news release last week about the seizure of records — namely a “hard drive” — from GMAT test prep site Scoretop.com (now shut down) caused a major freakout in the B-school world, there has been further news that might calm some ex-users of the site.
BusinessWeek reports that Robert Burgoyne, an attorney representing GMAC in the organization’s case, says that VIP members of the site, who paid $30 for 30 days of access to the site, will not automatically have their GMAT scores canceled: “GMAC isn’t going to start canceling scores because people are VIP members … We’ll look for something that actually links people to conduct they should have known was improper.”
Meanwhile, one person claiming to be an ex-VIP Scoretop user has purportedly posted GMAC’s response to his inquiry about his Scoretop membership might affect GMAT scores:
“The initial focus of our investigation will be on those who have distributed and disclosed real GMAT questions on the website. If through our investigations we come across individuals who have knowingly accessed “real”GMAT questions, then we will consider such cases as well.From your email, you seem confident that you never accessed real GMAT questions. If this is the case, you have nothing to worry about.”
But at the same time it appears that users were indeed able to access live questions via the website. Users called those live questions “JJs” or “Jungle Juice” (we have our guesses, but any user care to explain why?). BusinessWeek reports:
In one post cited by GMAC in its copyright infringement case, “h3adsh0t” describes the value of the JJs as “inestimable,” adding that he saw “10-12 JJs [when I took the GMAT], word by word, and many of the other questions felt very familiar.” In a “post-exam debriefing” filed by “sammi,” he described how he “got 3 successive [math] questions, of which all three were from scoretop Nov or Dec! …[T]he confidence you derive out of solving a seen problem is incomparable.”
GMAC and Burgoyne will be looking for those who accessed the “post-exam debriefings” and test takers who reported JJs on the website.
We wonder whether the case will extend beyond just Scoretop to all of the countless other MBA-prep sites out there, not to mention other forums and blogs where test takers discussed info regarding either Scoretop or “live” questions.
One B-school blog we found goes so far as to thank Scoretop for all of the “help”, especially specific forums of the site. Another detailed a GMAT test taking strategy as well as credited his (her?) 780 “courtesy Scoretop,” giving shout outs to members (”Stone, Tianlong, and Spiderman”) and recommending “Start doing the JJ’s (JJ = Jungle Juice = material that IS representative, and I mean EXTREMELY representative). Hit the ‘Forum’ button in the ‘Community’ drop-down menu, then choose the appropriate sub-forum.”
As expected, some people who used Scoretop and already have MBAs are up in arms. What will happen to their MBAs we wonder? And their companies… what happens when their MBAs vanish into thin air?
GMAC says that approximately 6,000 people paid for VIP access to the site. Scoretop, according to beatthegmat, was shut down in mid-May, (though one forum poster says that someone from Scoretop tried to restore access through some kind of hack). A note from GMAC on the now defunct Scoretop website states the following:
GMAC® takes cheating very seriously, especially attempts to obtain access to live test questions in advance of an exam. We also take very seriously any unauthorized distribution of our copyrighted GMAT® preparation materials. GMAC® constantly patrols the Internet for:
- Sites that claim to sell or distribute purportedly “real” GMAT® questions.
- Unauthorized copies of our official study guides and supplements, GMATPrep® software, and other GMAC® products.
If you are caught disclosing, accessing, or using “real” GMAT® questions:
- Your GMAT® scores will be cancelled.
- You will not be allowed to take the GMAT® exam again.
- Business schools will be notified.
- You may be subject to a civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution.
You are responsible for making sure your preparation materials don’t violate our intellectual property rights. In other words:
- Do not purchase, request, or share materials that claim to be “real” GMAT® questions in any form.
- Do not download GMATPrep® software from anywhere but www.mba.com, where authorized GMATPrep® software is available for free.
- Do not request or distribute pirated software or books such as the GMAT® Paper Tests, GMAT FocusTM or the Official GMAT® Guide.
On Jul 5, 2008, Shorty said:
This is absurd - that crock of shit about criminal prosecution is hilarious. GMAT thinks they’re ‘IP’ if you can call it that is so restricted that people will go to jail just from reading it. I guess all of the inventors out there that read patents on the patent office’s website should be indicted. Also, what is the big freaking deal here? The GMAT is just a standardized test to get in to bschool. Why should MBAs just vanish if s/o used this? They didn’t cheat to actually earn their degree - I see it as just doing ‘exceptional preparation’ to get into school. Either way, the GMAT is overrated anyways. Most top European schools don’t require it b/c they realize these tests are ridiculous is measuring the full potential of an applicant.
On Jul 24, 2008, Mr_Response said:
For one thing, the GMAT is a Monopoly. “Buy only from our site at http://www.mba.com or approved third parties,” but there only a couple test-prep companies that have approved study material. An ideal globalized culture would not have one, standardized exam, but alternatives to prove individual competency and goals to earn their degree.
With that, MBA universities should drop the GMAT from admissions applications since some people do not test well, have disability, and will especially CHEAT! I am of many who do not test well, but writes essays well—this is not an essay. I need alternatives to tests whenever possible in order to earn high marks.
As a prospect MBA student I am nervous about applying to schools that require the GMAT. Regis University, a top accredited MBA University, however offers an alternative to the GMAT. Prospective students can waive the GMAT with two 750 words essays that examine candidates’ ability to argue, set goals, and asses their how they will perform in an MBA program. I am more comfortable with Regis University’s option because I will have time to draft, edit, redraft, and finalize the essays for submission. I am less comfortable competing against people who have better abilities to take the GMAT for many reasons: people who finish sections before me, unnecessary noise, and most of all, cheating. I would elaborate, but this is a blog response.
Anyway, I recommend people search out alternatives to the GMAT and increase their chances to enter an MBA program of choice. If you have not checked out Regis University, here is a link. Good luck to you non-cheaters!
http://www.mbaregis.com/
On Aug 2, 2008, raj m said:
GMAC wants to monopolize on its standardised tests as it is a huge revenue earner for the company. Why do all the Univesities insist on GMAT/GRE etc. when there are alternatives to see if a candidate is competent enough? Are the Universities hand in gloves with GMAC in this racket? Can a time intensive test really measure the IQ or business acumen of a low scorer? I have seen consistent Honors students fair drastically in GMAT! Its time for GMAC to take a hike and MBA aspirants and Universities to review specifically as to why they place so much emphasis on such exams.