GMAT Strategy

Hiya - just 2 questions to someone who has already taken the GMAT test once before.... particularly if you've taken it at the London test centre (Holborn?).

1. Are you allowed to bring your own drinks and food with you at the computer while testing? A bottle of water would be great.

2. Do you sit the test in a group of other GMAT test takers? If so, did you find it distracting with others typing away frantically during the AWA?

I haven't taken the test in London, but these rules are worldwide:

1. You can't bring *anything* in to the testing room with you. This includes drinks (water), snacks, watches, cell phones, wallets, keys, etc. etc. etc.

2. Yes, there will be other people in the room with you taking GMATs and all sorts of other tests. They will be getting up and moving around during your exam. I don't notice them - I get in the "GMAT Zone" during the test. It might be good for you to go take a practice test in a location that simulates this test environment, such as a library.

Good luck!

i have a general question - i heard that the proctors give you a dry erase pad and marker to use but no eraser...and if you need more room you have to raise your hand to request a new dry erase pad from the proctor. is this true? if it is, it seems like such a hassle/disruptive to raise your hand whenever you need a new dry erase pad - can ppl just bring in an extra piece of clothing (like a black shirt or a scarf you don't care about) and use it as an eraser? or will the proctors not allow that?

Yes, that is how the scratch paper works - it is pretty annoying, but take solace in the fact that everyone is in the same boat.

I'm not sure if using your sleeve would work (you may have to get the paper wet first, i.e., spit on it....), or if it's even legal...

i think you guys should just follow the rules and DON"T BRING ANYTHING inside the test room! gmac is pretty strict with these rules and they can choose to cancel your score if you don't follow the rules. just use the marker and laminated sheets, if you need more just raise your hand. it wastes alot of time, so make sure you write small ( but readable )

are earplugs allowed?

what are you supposed to do with your car keys? do you check them at a desk or something?

One more note on the scrap paper.

You don't just get 1 sheet at a time. You get a bound package of 5 double-sided legal-sized dry erase pages. The front cover is filled with test directions, but the other 9 sides are blank (well, they're lined like graph paper, but no writing on them).

Most people find that the package gets them through an entire section. If you get down to your last page and you're even remotely worried that you'll need more before the end of the section, you should put up your hand then, rather than waiting until you completely run out of space. The only drawback is that when they bring you a new package, they take away the old one (mainly to prevent people from spending the last 5 minutes of the AWA writing out 4 pages of math formulae).

You should call your test centre in advance to see if it follows standard procedure or has its own - some centres still use regular paper instead of the dry erase pads. North American procedures might not yet have made it across the Pond.

And Stacey, they're not worried about writing notes on your earplugs - that's ridiculous; they're worried about using your official 007 mini transmitter!

Does anyone (Stuart or Stacey) know if you are allowed to write down notes for others in the beginning of the test. For example, write down math formulas and idoims while doing the writing section?