Paper and pencil

[prada]

Hey Guys,

Just a quick question. I remember when I did the GMAT a couple years ago I had a bad experience because they forced us to use a plastic sheet and a marker. That smudges the writing and instead of thin writing it was thick smudge. For a test so important as this we can't really afford to make a mistake between o and a or 7 and 1 or 8 and B and 3 or 2 and s. Finally after having spent decades writing with a pen or pencil on paper, why do we have to write on a plastic sheet with a marker?

Thanks

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Hi prada,

In real basic terms, the laminated pad and marker are 'secure' objects that a Test Taker can't fake. With paper, a Test Taker might be able to 'sneak in' notes or other knowledge to help him/her cheat on the Exam. With a laminated pad, that's not really possible. All things being equal though, the pad is pretty big, its pages are double-sided and working with a new/different style of writing implement is a skill that most people should be okay with.

If you're finding it difficult, then you can always purchase a market/pad set so that you can put in the necessary practice time to work effectively in that medium.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[ceilidh.erickson]

Rich is exactly right. It's annoying for test-takers (especially left-handed ones), but understandable from GMAC's perspective.

Manhattan Prep sells a practice one if you'd like to get used to using it: https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/stor ... nd-marker/