GMAT Test Day Tips

Here is a summary of to-do items for the test day:

• Bring all necessary documents such as identification cards (I.D.), the registration ticket and the names of the schools to which you would like send your test score. (Bring two forms of ID in case one has expired or is not acceptable to the test center.)

• Bring something warm to put on in case the room is too cold.

According to test center rules, you have to wear the sweater or coat instead of just putting it around your shoulders. So make sure that the additional layer of sweater or coat is comfortable in a test-taking setting.

• Also be sure you can remove a layer of clothing in case the room is hot.

• Bring something light to drink or eat.
A bottle of water or a soft drink with a cap is preferred over a can so that you can minimize the chances of spilling. (Though you can not take anything into the testing room, you will be assigned a small locker. During your 5-minute breaks, you can have a few sips to stay hydrated or a bite to eat if you get hungry. Normally test centers allow you to put it outside on a desk or at an easily reachable spot or inside your locker so that you can quickly grab the drink or the food.)

• No testing aids such as study notes, calculators and PDAs are allowed.

At the test:

• Follow your normal routine.

• Arrive at the test at least 30 minutes early.

• Do concentrate on the first 10 questions of each section most. At the beginning of each section, the total number of questions and the total time allowed are stated.

• Maintain a focused mind and a positive winning attitude throughout the entire test.

• Do not panic. Focus on one question at a time. Focus on one section at a time. Do not think beyond your current section and lose your concentration.

• Do not get fixated and spend unreasonable time on any single question. It will not make or break your score. Because the score per section is partially based on the number of questions you answer, try to answer as many questions as you can.

• Do not leave any questions unanswered before the section time runs out. Always submit an answer after some educated or blind guesses. Remember that you cannot skip questions or change an answer once you confirm it.

• If a few questions or passages are difficult to understand, do not let them prompt you to cancel your score entirely. You never know.

• If something is wrong with the computer, or if someone is bothering you, or if it’s miserably hot etc., signal to an exam proctor. The proctor walks around in the test room every 15-20 minutes.

• Pace yourself and keep track of your progress by checking the amount of time you have left on the test screen. Each section is 75 minutes. You have about two minutes per Quantitative question and about 1.75 minutes per Verbal question.

• Pay attention to the number of questions that remain in a section. There are 37 quantitative section questions. There are 41 verbal section questions.

• Clicking on ``HELP'' or hiding the ``TIME'' information doesn’t pause or stop the time.

• Between test sections, ask for new supply of laminated scratch pads if necessary.

• Take advantage of breaks. Rest your eyes, as the computer screen is difficult to stare at for 3.5 hours straight.