Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 06:45 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 06:45
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   4 
User avatar
highhopes
User avatar
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Last visit: 26 Mar 2022
Posts: 644
Own Kudos:
138
Given Kudos: 16
Schools:Duke 2012
GMAT 1: 740 Q49 V42
Posts: 644
Kudos: 138
Fight the Noteboards 24 Jun 2009, 17:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
emperorblack
umashg
I've read the posts on the subject and wanted to throw in my 2c:

While I agree that the noteboards can be a cause of heartburn for some people, I think the most important point for each test taker is to be mentally prepared for the setup (overall, not just the notebaords) before going to the test center. I've taken the test twice - first time with ETS, using paper and pencil, and then with Vue, using the noteboards. I honestly dont think the noteboards make that much of a difference. Like someone said earlier, any external factor can have a psychological impact on the test taker - it could be the awful cologne worn by the person in the adjacent desk, noise from the AC units, etc. During my second test, I had to endure a somewhat sick student who was coughing most of the time - the earplugs could only do so much.

The best strategy is to tune out all the extraneous factors and focus on the test. Specifically for the noteboards, I'd suggest using a similar setup on your very last practice test at home just to get a feel for it. About the only concern I really had with the noteboards was that all my fingers were soaked in ink by the time I was done - and the ink doesnt wash off easily.

Sorry about reviving an old thread...this person said earplugs! Are earplugs allowed? If so, can I take them or are they provided? Also, if you feel the pen's tip is no longer "fine", can you ask for another one? Or once you get a pen, that's it? Thanks.
Show more
They had headphones and I think they provided ear plugs if you wanted them, but I'm less sure about that part.

You can get as many pens as you need, but you can't pause your test to ask for a new one, you have to raise your hand and hope they notice you right away, so it's probably better to check it right away and then try to get through once you've started.
User avatar
timetrader
User avatar
Joined: 16 Mar 2009
Last visit: 18 Sep 2015
Posts: 97
Own Kudos:
1,431
Given Kudos: 19
Location: Bologna, Italy
Posts: 97
Kudos: 1,431
Fight the Noteboards 24 Jun 2009, 17:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Testing center may or may not provide the headphones. (I'm pretty positive that you have to have your own earplugs, it is better than to expect that the center will have them available)
You can read more here - gmat-testing-centers-discussion-77635.html
User avatar
Av
User avatar
Joined: 04 Oct 2008
Last visit: 19 Jun 2012
Posts: 885
Own Kudos:
303
Given Kudos: 86
Status:Badgerine!
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
GPA: 3.3
WE:Project Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
Posts: 885
Kudos: 303
Fight the Noteboards 25 Jun 2009, 10:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
timetrader
Testing center may or may not provide the headphones. (I'm pretty positive that you have to have your own earplugs, it is better than to expect that the center will have them available)
You can read more here - gmat-testing-centers-discussion-77635.html
Show more

The Pearson VUE test center in Pasadena, CA provided me with two new ear plugs.
User avatar
lonewolf
User avatar
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Last visit: 16 Feb 2011
Posts: 151
Own Kudos:
30
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Posts: 151
Kudos: 30
Fight the Noteboards 18 Nov 2009, 21:22
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
From what I have read so far, it seems you will be given a laminated paper booklet with 4 sheets (8 page) in total. It will come with an erasable pen but you are not given an eraser?

You will not be given additional pen or booklet in the beginning of the test and have to raise your hand for switches. I have been practicing problems and tests on pen and normal scrap papers, should I consider switching to the booklet?

It is annoying to find that you cannot get additional papers ahead of time, I am pretty certain I will use more than 8 pages for Quant given how big I write....
User avatar
shadow
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
Last visit: 01 Nov 2016
Posts: 928
Own Kudos:
252
Given Kudos: 113
Affiliations: Consortium (CGSM.org), NSHMBA
Location: New Haven
Schools:Yale SOM Class of 2012
WE 1: Investment Banking Summer Associate (Boutique tech M&A)
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 928
Kudos: 252
Fight the Noteboards 19 Nov 2009, 00:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
that's correct. you're not given an eraser... if you make a mistake they expect you to cross it out. of course, this says nothing for what would happen if your palms get sweaty and it erases by mistake :arh
User avatar
lonewolf
User avatar
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Last visit: 16 Feb 2011
Posts: 151
Own Kudos:
30
Given Kudos: 8
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Posts: 151
Kudos: 30
Fight the Noteboards 19 Nov 2009, 02:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
shadowsjc
that's correct. you're not given an eraser... if you make a mistake they expect you to cross it out. of course, this says nothing for what would happen if your palms get sweaty and it erases by mistake :arh
Show more

I have been doing problems on scratch paper with pen up to now. Do you think I should get something like noteboard/laminated paper/eraser board to get prepared for the actual exam? I am not sure how much that affect your result....

Just for curiosity, how often do people ask for a note board replacement during quant and verbal?
User avatar
klusener
User avatar
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Last visit: 06 Sep 2010
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
15
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 32
Kudos: 15
Fight the Noteboards 19 Nov 2009, 06:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I hate the bureaucracy of the test center

i had given GRE in Bombay and the number of notebooks you were given were very limited.
User avatar
jzd
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Aug 2009
Last visit: 29 Jun 2011
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
106
Given Kudos: 1
Concentration: Operation, Supply Chain, Product Management
Schools:MIT Sloan 2012
Posts: 112
Kudos: 106
Fight the Noteboards 13 Dec 2009, 01:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This notepad thing is especially bad in my case since I have sweaty palms!!!!

But you know after taking the test for the fourth time and I am now used to it. I do all my practice exams with color markers (on regular paper though) and I solved my sweaty palm problem by covering my entire palm with the sleeve of my shirt while holding my pen....YES for the entire 4 hours I was writing like this LOL
User avatar
JasLamba
User avatar
Joined: 28 Nov 2009
Last visit: 02 Dec 2021
Posts: 21
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 5
Location: Earth
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy, Innovation
Posts: 21
Kudos: 1
Fight the Noteboards 20 Mar 2010, 22:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I hate the pens. In verbal its not that bad but in Quant it annoys the hell out of me. I always have practiced quant with pilot uniball eye's and coming to these erasable staedler bullshits kills! I just ordered the MGMAT pad and I will be looking for the staedler pens.

@#$#@$ the noteboards!!!

Best.
Jas
User avatar
PadawanOfTheGMAT
User avatar
Joined: 31 Mar 2010
Last visit: 30 May 2013
Posts: 381
Own Kudos:
71
Given Kudos: 26
Location: Europe
Posts: 381
Kudos: 71
Fight the Noteboards 27 Aug 2010, 04:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
That's a very good idea to try the pen out before the test starts and do as much lobbying as one can to get extra pains.

I guess we can train on regular paper with 4 sheets that have approximately the same size as the real ones. At least we can know how many pages we use.

Is it advisable to ask for a new booklet during the breaks, just to make sure we never run out of space in each section?
User avatar
PranavChamp
User avatar
Joined: 16 Feb 2010
Last visit: 23 Jun 2012
Posts: 197
Own Kudos:
177
Given Kudos: 86
Status:Brainstorming.
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 540 Q47 V19
GMAT 2: 610 Q46 V28
GPA: 3.86
WE:Programming (Computer Software)
GMAT 2: 610 Q46 V28
Posts: 197
Kudos: 177
Fight the Noteboards 27 Aug 2010, 10:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
very true...Those markers and laminated sheets suck!
User avatar
mohater
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Last visit: 03 Jan 2020
Posts: 1,823
Own Kudos:
1,163
Given Kudos: 234
Status:Accepting donations for the mohater MBA debt repayment fund
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Operations, Finance
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.54
WE:Accounting (Manufacturing)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Ross '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V38
Posts: 1,823
Kudos: 1,163
Fight the Noteboards 28 Aug 2010, 08:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Obviously, this fight has been lost.

Locked. PM Me if anyone has success in reaching out to the GMAC and I will open the thread back up.
   1   2   3   4 
Moderator:
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
444 posts