My friend's computer malfunctioned today which caused him to be unable to answer 7 questions on the BS section of the test. The prometric proctor documented the problem. My friend, regretfully, chose not to void the test. Once the AAMC is notified, will they give my friend the opportunity to cancel the test and reschedule for June? Has anyone had a similar experience? What was the outcome?
Prometric Computer Malfunction on 5/31/12 test
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Come to think of it, is this were to happen and a person did void their test, would they get a refund along with a late fee waiver for the next MCAT test, or does AAMC keep your $240 for your glitched test?
You guys keep saying, "if he voided". The point is that he didn't void, andnow doesn't want his score to be part of his permanent record reported on his AMCAS application. Do you think the AAMC, given the unfortunate circumstance of the documented prometric computer glich, will still give him the option of voiding out the exam?
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Here are the top 5 most relevant facts.
1. He knew about the malfunction.
2. The malfunction was documented by Prometric.
3. He didn't void.
4. He didn't void.
5. He didn't void.
It's his fault for not voiding, and the AAMC already gave him one chance to void, which he declined. Why would they give him a second chance?
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Instead of asking posters on here, it would be better to directly ask the AAMC.
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I think that he would get a refund.
Last year I sat for a test in June, but didn't take the exam until August because of a glitch on test day that made it start a half hour late for every one. For everyone that requested a one, they got a card that let them register for another exam free of charge. I think that AAMC does coordinate with Prometric on this though...
Last year I sat for a test in June, but didn't take the exam until August because of a glitch on test day that made it start a half hour late for every one. For everyone that requested a one, they got a card that let them register for another exam free of charge. I think that AAMC does coordinate with Prometric on this though...
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Fortunately this didn't happen to anyone I know or myself but I see where the problem lies.
You have someone paying a large sum of money to take an exam. When you take the exam can effect you just as much as how well you do (to an extent i.e. early May vs late July). When something like this happens it frazzles you. I don't think anyone thinks about whether or not to void due to computer issues before the exam but most people have a pre-determined threshold for when they would void for other reasons like difficulty. In the case you don't feel you did well, you are comfortable taking the $300 hit because you have thought about it before. But when a computer glitch happens you have no idea if you will be reimbursed if you void (which seems reasonable since you didn't take the test in standard conditions) and you have no idea when the next available exam is going to be.
They should really sit down with people that had glitches after the exam and inform them of what to expect if they void or not. Will you be reimbursed, will you have an available test date soon and just reiterate to them the question "do you think it effected their score negatively?". It is their fault, not the tester's and it is unreasoable to just say "why didn't you void, why didn't you void, why didn't you void"... but these people didn't have adequate resources to make a logical decision.
People really can't say "you should have just voided"...
You have someone paying a large sum of money to take an exam. When you take the exam can effect you just as much as how well you do (to an extent i.e. early May vs late July). When something like this happens it frazzles you. I don't think anyone thinks about whether or not to void due to computer issues before the exam but most people have a pre-determined threshold for when they would void for other reasons like difficulty. In the case you don't feel you did well, you are comfortable taking the $300 hit because you have thought about it before. But when a computer glitch happens you have no idea if you will be reimbursed if you void (which seems reasonable since you didn't take the test in standard conditions) and you have no idea when the next available exam is going to be.
They should really sit down with people that had glitches after the exam and inform them of what to expect if they void or not. Will you be reimbursed, will you have an available test date soon and just reiterate to them the question "do you think it effected their score negatively?". It is their fault, not the tester's and it is unreasoable to just say "why didn't you void, why didn't you void, why didn't you void"... but these people didn't have adequate resources to make a logical decision.
People really can't say "you should have just voided"...
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dont count on getting your scores voided after the fact. There have been other threads with technical issues with such attempts and no luck.
No harm in asking
gl
No harm in asking
gl
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According to the MCAT essentials, ur friend will be able to retake the MCAT at a later date free of charge,however, they don't mention anything about allowing him to void after-the-fact therefore I doubt they will allow him to void now but he should receive a free retake
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MCAT website specifically says they will not allow you to void after you leave the testing center, no matter how extreme the circumstances were. I understand why they have this rule. If they didn't, people could leave, go home, look up answers to all kinds of questions they saw on the exam, and *then* decide if they want the exam voided.
I had a computer glitch yesterday, and the testing staff said they would file an incident report (though I have no proof if they did). They also told me over and over that I was "imagining" a computer glitch--they kept claiming that I wasn't allowed to have access to an periodic table, and THAT was why the computer wouldn't display it (eye roll). I understand AAMC's policy, and think it makes sense. At the same time, AAMC doesn't employ the test center staff/MCAT proctors. There's no telling what line of baloney the Prometric staff feeds students when they run into problems. Promising that they will file an incident report has the foreseeable effect of luring students into a false sense of security that their problem will be addressed.
Personally, I traveled almost 6 hours from home to take the MCAT yesterday, only for the computer to act all screwy. Had I not been absolutely positive that I was entitled to a periodic table, and had I not been absolutely aware of the AAMC policy that I had no choice but to void, and that the most I'd get is a refund, I'd probably have listened to the test staff who claimed I was mistaken about having a periodic table.
All of that is to say: your friend is SOL. If s/he's lucky, they'll get a refund. The score will not be adjusted, voided after the fact, etc., and will be reported to schools. Since the exam wasn't voided, getting a refund will now be much more difficult. YMMV.
I had a computer glitch yesterday, and the testing staff said they would file an incident report (though I have no proof if they did). They also told me over and over that I was "imagining" a computer glitch--they kept claiming that I wasn't allowed to have access to an periodic table, and THAT was why the computer wouldn't display it (eye roll). I understand AAMC's policy, and think it makes sense. At the same time, AAMC doesn't employ the test center staff/MCAT proctors. There's no telling what line of baloney the Prometric staff feeds students when they run into problems. Promising that they will file an incident report has the foreseeable effect of luring students into a false sense of security that their problem will be addressed.
Personally, I traveled almost 6 hours from home to take the MCAT yesterday, only for the computer to act all screwy. Had I not been absolutely positive that I was entitled to a periodic table, and had I not been absolutely aware of the AAMC policy that I had no choice but to void, and that the most I'd get is a refund, I'd probably have listened to the test staff who claimed I was mistaken about having a periodic table.
All of that is to say: your friend is SOL. If s/he's lucky, they'll get a refund. The score will not be adjusted, voided after the fact, etc., and will be reported to schools. Since the exam wasn't voided, getting a refund will now be much more difficult. YMMV.
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