GMAT test day is near. Are you afraid? Are you nervous? What happens if you can’t sit there for hours without going to the bathroom? What happens if your pen won’t write? What if you just can’t concentrate on your test and everything falls apart?
Don’t imagine things that aren’t there. Here, we’ll dismantle some popular GMAT test day myths, and you will forget about scaring yourself and start thinking of the really important thing: your test results.
Myth #1: They won’t let me go to the bathroom for hours.
Truth: Actually, there are no less than two breaks during your GMAT test. Any of them lasts eight minutes – ample time to visit the bathroom. The first is after Section #2, and the second after Section #3. You’ll be able to go out after just an hour of sitting your exam. The breaks are your own choice: you can either take them or just keep working. However, don’t forget that you have no more than eight minutes: if you surpass this time, you’ll have less time to finish your next section.
Myth #2: I can take my phone with me – I’ll just put it on silent or something.
Truth: All digital devices, like phones, cameras, recorders, MP3 players etc. are strictly forbidden. You can’t take any of these to the testing room, but you can leave them in lockers in the test center. What you CAN and should bring for the test are things like your confirmation letter from the test center, the names of universities to receive your test results, and, of course, some kind of identification.
Myth #3: If I registered online, I don’t need anything else to prove my identity.
Truth: It is obligatory to bring some form of ID with you on the test day. Also, don’t be alarmed when the test center personnel will ask you to pose for a photo and allow to scan your palm. You may have to sign somewhere as well. What passes as ID, you ask? Passports, of course, then a driving license, military or student ID, etc. Without proper identification, you won’t be allowed into the test center and won’t be able to sit the exam.
Myth #4: I haven’t ever been to the test center, so I’ll get lost there.
Truth: You have every right to come to the designated test center beforehand and make yourself acquainted with its rooms, if you take a preparatory test provided by programs like Official Test Day Experience. First of all, it will provide you with the opportunity to take a mock test under absolutely realistic conditions, secondly, you’ll be able to see what the testing room looks, feels and smells like, and thirdly, you’ll know how long it takes to get there, what kind of traffic awaits you on the roads. Thus, you won’t risk running late on the real test day. If something prevents you from visiting the testing facility and taking a mock test, at least drive there the day before: you won’t be so scared the next day. Also, remember that there are administrators and instructors in the testing facility, as well as signs and directions for people who are there for the first time.
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