Problems with test administrator

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Problems with test administrator

by AleksandrM » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:23 pm
My exam is this Friday, so I just called the customer service number to find out some specific information about the day of the test.

One of my questions was about moving the keyboard. I asked the guy if it is okay to move the keyboard out of my way for the quantitative and verbal section. He told me that it should not be a problem, but I should still ask the test administrator for permission.

My question is: Has anyone here encountered an administrator that had a problem with this (I am assuming that I am not the only one who would like ample surface for the boards)?

Also, the guy told me that I will be provided with something to drown out the sound if I request it. Do they have those giant "helicopter" headphones or do they provide us with foam earplugs?

Thanks.
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by mbaprocrastinator » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:40 pm
Hi,

My guess is they will provide the foam earplugs. I am yet to take the GMAT, but I don't see GMAC being so magnanimous to make the test-taker's life easy by providing the noise-canceling headphones :).

Good luck and beatthegmat!

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Re: Problems with test administrator

by Neo2000 » Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:05 pm
AleksandrM wrote:My exam is this Friday, so I just called the customer service number to find out some specific information about the day of the test.

One of my questions was about moving the keyboard. I asked the guy if it is okay to move the keyboard out of my way for the quantitative and verbal section. He told me that it should not be a problem, but I should still ask the test administrator for permission.

My question is: Has anyone here encountered an administrator that had a problem with this (I am assuming that I am not the only one who would like ample surface for the boards)?

Also, the guy told me that I will be provided with something to drown out the sound if I request it. Do they have those giant "helicopter" headphones or do they provide us with foam earplugs?

Thanks.
When I gave the GMAT, i got a proper computer table with a sliding drawer for the keyboard. Since you dont need the keyboard for the Quant and Verbal sections, you simply slide the drawer in and push your chair up closer to the table. I believe GMAC ensures that all test centres offer a proper computer table for the test taker.

No no giant helicopter headphones but earplugs that you toss away at the end of the exam. They come in neat plastic packets. Mostly, you will not need them but in case you do, they do a good job of blocking out most of the noise. Of course, some people have had construction work going on near the center so you might want to prepare for that eventuality.