What to Expect on Test Day
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I’ve talked to a ton of students recently who were surprised by some detail of test day—and that detail affected their performance. In most of these cases, the “surprising” detail was actually exactly what should have happened, according to the official rules. So let’s talk about what’s going to happen when you finally get in there to take the test.
When You Arrive on Test Day
There will be some kind of outer waiting area, followed by an inner office where you’ll go through various security procedures, and finally the “inner sanctum”: the testing room. There are video cameras everywhere and you will be filmed the entire time you’re in the testing room.
When you first arrive, you’ll be asked to read (and sign) a bunch of legalese. Basically, you’ll promise that you’re really you and that you won’t share anything that you see with anyone else. You have to sign this document or you won’t be allowed to take the test.
You’ll also be asked for your ID. Check the guidelines to determine what kind of ID you must bring. Further, when you’re registering for the test, make sure that the name and birthdate you enter into the registration system match exactly what’s written on the piece of ID you’ll use to enter the test center.
But wait! You’re not done with security yet. They’ll take a digital photo of you as well as a digital fingerprint or thumbprint. They’ll ask you to take off your watch and place it (along with all of your other belongings) in a locker. They’ll even ask you to pull out your pockets to show that you are not taking any cheat sheets or other notes into the testing center.
A note on that locker: everything goes in, including your wallet or purse, your money, your mobile phone, your keys. Everything. Do not bring any study notes into the test center with you; your test will be cancelled immediately even if you simply leave these in your locker! Don’t use any electronic devices at any time, even on the breaks. On the one break for which you’re allowed to leave the testing room, don’t write anything down, even if you’re just writing down your grocery list. Don’t give them any reason to think that you might be cheating.
Starting the Test
You’ll be given scrap paper to use during the test. The official website does not specify a precise number of pages; I was given 5 sheets the last time I took the test. If you use up the paper, raise your hand and a proctor will come to see what you need. He or she will give you new paper and take away the used sheets. You have to use all of the given sheets before you can request fresh scrap paper.
During the test, you will have one 10-minute break after the third section, during which you can leave the testing room. After that, you’ll have just a one-minute break after each section—not enough time to leave your desk. Try to plan your scrap paper usage so that you can ask for more at the end of a section, when you have a short break.
If you’re ill (or suffer from allergies, as I do), you’ll be allowed to take some tissues into the room with you, but not your own tissues. You’ll have to use the tissues provided by the test center. If you need more, raise your hand and the proctor will bring you more. Note that you aren’t allowed to have an unlimited supply; someone could conceivably write information on tissues and conceal them.
Other people will be in the testing room with you, and they will not be on the same schedule as you. People will be entering, exiting, and moving around the room, so expect these minor disruptions. Your little section will have short walls that rise up a couple of feet from the desk—sort of a mini-cubicle. If you find yourself distracted by movement around you, sit forward enough that the mini-walls block you from seeing others in your peripheral vision.
Now, here’s one of the things that I’ve heard surprised some recent test-takers: you are not permitted to write down notes or set up your scrap paper before the test starts. When you sit down, the proctor will start up the test. There is a short sequence at the beginning where you read some test instructions and select the schools to which you plan to send your scores.
You can try to jot down some timing benchmarks or a few formulas while these pre-test sections are up, but the proctors may tell you to stop. If so, listen to what they say. Don’t plan to be able to spend any time at all writing things down ahead of time. Strip your desired notes down to the bare minimum needed—and practice writing efficiently!
Breaks
When break-time rolls around, you have a choice: you can take the break or you can continue on with the test. (I strongly recommend that you take the break.) And here’s the second item that I’ve heard people express a lot of surprise about lately: you cannot stay in your seat during the 10-minute break. You either take the break, in which case you must leave the room, or you keep going with the test.
This “big” break occurs after the third section—that is, after the two essays and the first of the multiple-choice sections. Annoyingly, you can’t look at your watch! It’s in your locker. The testing center is required to have a clock on the wall in every room; when you first arrive, check for a clock in the outer waiting area. If no clock is visible or if the clock has stopped working, say something to the proctors right away!
As soon as you get out to the waiting room, look at the clock. Plan for about 7 to 8 minutes (because the security procedures eat up about a minute in getting out of the room and another minute on the way back in).
When you get to the waiting area, open up your locker and have something to eat and drink. Walk around. Stretch. Touch your toes and do a few jumping jacks. Use the restroom. Don’t sit down, don’t start reading a magazine, and don’t start thinking about…well, anything really. Not the test, or how you’re doing on the test, or what you’re going to do after the test is over. Just try to empty your brain and think only about what you’re actually doing: stretching, eating, drinking. If you have a favorite song, play it in your head. (Don’t pull out your iPod, or any electronic device.)
For the remaining breaks (one minute after each section), you won’t leave the room. Use the time to stretch (while sitting in your chair), roll your neck around, close your eyes, play your favorite song in your head, and otherwise clear your brain before the next section starts.
If you have an urgent need to go to the bathroom, you are allowed to leave the room, but the clock will continue to count down on your current section. If you become ill, you can leave the room at any time and cancel your test.
How Else Can I Get Ready?
ETS has posted information about test center procedures, identification requirements, and policies; take a look through the information to minimize surprises.
If you are even a little bit nervous about the test (and most of us are!), read through everything. The more you know about what to expect, the better prepared you’ll be to handle your nerves on test day.
Good luck! ?
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Stacey Koprince is a Manhattan Prep instructor based in Montreal, Canada and Los Angeles, California. Stacey has been teaching the GMAT, GRE, and LSAT for more than 15 years and is one of the most well-known instructors in the industry. Stacey loves to teach and is absolutely fascinated by standardized tests.