Last visit was: 05 May 2026, 20:37 It is currently 05 May 2026, 20:37
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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
User avatar
TtTt1212
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2024
Last visit: 21 Feb 2025
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
12
Given Kudos: 45
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Other
GPA: 4.0
Posts: 60
Kudos: 12
Scratch Pad Help! Does it matter if we dont get to practice with it? 28 Sep 2024, 01:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am unable to purchase a laminated scratch pad, it's not available now in my country. This will be my first ( and hopefully only) attempt at the GMAT FE. I have never used this type of scratch pad, I have been using pen and paper to practice. My exam is in a week and I am worried if this would affect my performance.
Are there people here who have used the scratch pad for the first time during the exam? Did you feel like lack of practice with it beforehand adversely affected your abilities during the exam?
Someone please tell me that the paper is not relevant, I am lowkey freaking out as I have no means of obtaining this pad before my exam to test it out!
I use the pad mainly for quants, and DI.
User avatar
AjiteshArun
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 15 Jul 2015
Last visit: 05 May 2026
Posts: 6,090
Own Kudos:
5,142
 [2]
Given Kudos: 742
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q83 V90 DI83
GMAT 1: 780 Q50 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V169
Posts: 6,090
Kudos: 5,142
 [2]
Scratch Pad Help! Does it matter if we dont get to practice with it? 29 Sep 2024, 22:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TtTt1212
Are there people here who have used the scratch pad for the first time during the exam? Did you feel like lack of practice with it beforehand adversely affected your abilities during the exam?
Someone please tell me that the paper is not relevant, I am lowkey freaking out as I have no means of obtaining this pad before my exam to test it out!
Show more
Hi TtTt1212,

It's just a marker, to be used on a laminated noteboard. It made no difference to me when I took my first (cold) GMAT. For what it's worth, I think it's more important to make sure they give you two markers on exam day, and to make sure that they aren't dry, or close to drying out.

That said, you can make your own noteboard: get a few (5) ~legal size sheets laminated and bound (short side), and use them when you take practice tests. The marker is a non-permanent Staedtler fine-tip marker.

All the best.
avatar
Arunava7393
avatar
Joined: 09 Aug 2024
Last visit: 06 Jan 2026
Posts: 98
Own Kudos:
34
 [1]
Given Kudos: 159
Posts: 98
Kudos: 34
 [1]
Scratch Pad Help! Does it matter if we dont get to practice with it? 29 Sep 2024, 22:45
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AjiteshArun
TtTt1212
Are there people here who have used the scratch pad for the first time during the exam? Did you feel like lack of practice with it beforehand adversely affected your abilities during the exam?
Someone please tell me that the paper is not relevant, I am lowkey freaking out as I have no means of obtaining this pad before my exam to test it out!
Hi TtTt1212,

It's just a marker, to be used on a laminated noteboard. It made no difference to me when I took my first (cold) GMAT. For what it's worth, I think it's more important to make sure they give you two markers on exam day, and to make sure that they aren't dry, or close to drying out.

That said, you can make your own noteboard: get a few (5) ~legal size sheets laminated and bound (short side), and use them when you take practice tests. The marker is a non-permanent Staedtler fine-tip marker.

All the best.
Show more

Thanks a lot from my side too.
User avatar
TtTt1212
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jul 2024
Last visit: 21 Feb 2025
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
12
Given Kudos: 45
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Other
GPA: 4.0
Posts: 60
Kudos: 12
Scratch Pad Help! Does it matter if we dont get to practice with it? 29 Sep 2024, 22:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This is super helpful. Thank you!!
AjiteshArun
TtTt1212
Are there people here who have used the scratch pad for the first time during the exam? Did you feel like lack of practice with it beforehand adversely affected your abilities during the exam?
Someone please tell me that the paper is not relevant, I am lowkey freaking out as I have no means of obtaining this pad before my exam to test it out!
Hi TtTt1212,

It's just a marker, to be used on a laminated noteboard. It made no difference to me when I took my first (cold) GMAT. For what it's worth, I think it's more important to make sure they give you two markers on exam day, and to make sure that they aren't dry, or close to drying out.

That said, you can make your own noteboard: get a few (5) ~legal size sheets laminated and bound (short side), and use them when you take practice tests. The marker is a non-permanent Staedtler fine-tip marker.

All the best.
Show more
Moderators:
gchandana
196 posts
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
474 posts