Pen and paper available on GMAT?

Question

One thing I couldn't find from the official GMAT handbook is what sort of pen and paper will be available. From searches I understand it might be some erasable board?

I have been practicing with vanilla A4 sheets of paper and a normal pen - usually on the quant section I use up about 15 of them both-sided, i.e. about 30 single-sided pieces of paper. So if it's erasable board I might be wasting some time erasing during the actual exam.

Is it possible to buy this, say on Amazon?

Thanks

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jk451,

The pad and pen you receive on Test Day will be fairly similar to the ones pictured here. The pad is spiral-bound at the top and consists of 6 sheets (with instructions on the front of the first sheet). You can ask for a replacement pad and/or pen at any time (even during your breaks), but you will have to 'trade' your existing pad/pen for the new one.

A reasonable practice 'substitute' for the Official pad/pen is 6 sheets of yellow pad legal paper, stapled at the top (to simulate the spiral-bound design of the pad you'll use on Test Day) and a felt-tip marker.

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

mvictor · Answer

note that it will not be a "legal pad", which makes it more convenient for math, especially if you need to draw some graphs.

jk451 · Answer

Thanks!

So I will just ask for 3 or 4 and should be in the same situation as when I am training with unlimited pieces of A4 paper.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi jk451,

While you are allowed to exchange your pad/pen at any time, you are allowed JUST ONE of each at any time (so you CANNOT have a 'stack' of them at your desk) on Test Day.

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

OptimusPrepJanielle · Answer

Yes, you can change the booklets if you are done with one.
However make sure you do not give back any grid that you might have made for the Verbal section.

Some enters allow you to have 2 pens at once. So, do not worry about the pen and the pad.
All the best for your GMAT!

jk451 · Answer

Thanks! By 3 or 4 I meant I will cycle them through, that's fine, I don't keep any special notes I need to carry over.

Thanks very much for the clarification!

Mahamudul608 · Answer

Will it cause serious time waste during the exam? exchange may take few minitues and every second is precious duting a gmat exam.

AjiteshArun · Answer

At good centers they'll carry replacement pads and markers when they come over after you raise your hand, so they don't have to go back and get anything. But yes, it is possible that at some (few) centers the process will take time.

Remember to put your hand up  before  you run out of space.

ameyaprabhu · Answer

Had some questions regarding this:

A. does the booklet open sideways, like a novel, or like a table top calendar, where you have to flip the page from top and not sideways

B. Assuming it is like a novel, can we write on both sides of the booklet or on only one side?

AjiteshArun · Answer

You have to flip the pages from the top. Yes, you can write on both sides.

GMATBusters · Answer

Hi  bb ,  egmat ,  EMPOWERgmatRichC

Can you provide the dimensions of the grid in the scratch pad.
I am planning to take print out if grid. The exact dimensions of grid would helps to simulate the testing environment better.

It would be best if you can provide a scanned or PDF copy of the grid.

Thanks in advance.

sandman13 · Answer

Can you write on the scratchpad during your break?

AjiteshArun · Answer

No. If you choose to take a break, you must leave the testing room. A good center will give you a new noteboard once you come back.

HKD1710 · Answer

Also, It is always a good idea to ask for a new scratchpad and couple of working pens when leaving for break. It only takes a few seconds of conversation. Though they do it themselves but letting them know is to make sure. You will find them on your desk itself.

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