Don’t let GMAT Test Day myths keep you from focusing on the most important thing—your GMAT score.
Anxious about GMAT Test Day? Making yourself crazy over what to expect? What if you have to use the bathroom? What if your pencil breaks? What if there’s a weird smell and it gives you a headache and you just can’t focus and so you pass out?
Relax.
Don’t fear what isn’t there. We’ll calm you with a dose of reality so you can breathe easy about the details and focus on what’s really important: your GMAT score. Predicting GMAT Test Day will further help you predict your score.
Myth #1: I’ll have to hold it for three-and-a-half hours.
Reality: You get breaks! Two, in fact. The Revised GMAT includes two optional eight-minute breaks, one after Section 2 (after 60 minutes of actual exam time), and one after Section 3 (or 75 minutes of exam time). Because both breaks are optional, you can continue onto the next section if you don’t want to interrupt your flow. Keep in mind, though, if your breaks take more than 8 minutes, it will eat into your time for the next test section.
Myth #2: I’ll put my phone on silent in my pocket.
Reality: Smartphones, watches, recording, and photographic devices aren’t allowed in the testing room, but you will be able to store these items on the premises. The ONLY things you’re allowed to bring into the testing room are your ID, the names of the programs to which you would like to send your GMAT scores, and the appointment confirmation letter or email you received from Pearson VUE.
Myth #3: I already registered online; I’ll just roll up to the test and walk in.
Reality: You’ll need proper identification that exactly matches the name you used when registering. Plus, be ready to smile for the camera—the test center administrator will take your digital photograph and/or signature, as well as digital scans of your palm vein pattern. Suitable forms of ID are: a passport, driver’s license, military ID card, or government-issued identity card. If testing outside your country of citizenship, a passport is always required. Remember, if you can’t present the appropriate ID, you will not be permitted into the testing center.
Myth #4: I’ll have no idea what kind of space I’m walking into, I may get lost.
Reality: Not if you take a practice test at an actual testing facility—and programs like Kaplan’s Official Test Day Experience let you do just that. Taking a practice computer test in a testing facility gives you the opportunity to drive to the center, gauge traffic, anticipate parking, and scope out the layout and temperature of the testing room—in addition to experience GMAT testing in its natural environment. Even if you can’t schedule this, however, rest easy. Remember that others will be testing, as well, and there will likely be precise instructions and signs to get you where you’re going. A simple dry run to the test center the night before can also quell your fears.
Wondering what kind of score might get now that you can take all these nerve-racking myths out of the equation? Check out our Score Predictor Quiz to get a sense of where you might stand on GMAT Test Day.
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