Test Center Experience

Use this pre-test checklist prior taking the exam at a test center:

1. Confirm your appointment date, time, and location in your appointment confirmation email and on your mba.com My Account.
2. Review the Exam Policies to understand test policies and avoid policy violations which may result in your score being canceled.
3. Familiarize yourself with the route to your test center location, and make sure to account for travel time and potential traffic delays.
4. Plan to arrive at the test center at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time, to allow plenty of time for the check-in process.
5. Bring a valid photo ID; double check that your ID complies with your local ID requirements (and that your name exactly matches your registration).
6. Relax and make sure you are well rested before your appointment!

You can also download our Exam Day Checklist.

Visit ID Requirements.

What You CAN Bring into the Test Center:

• GMAT approved identification
• Appointment confirmation email you received from Pearson VUE
• Prescription eyeglasses, without the case, including tinted lenses
• Light sweater or light non-outerwear jacket
• Permitted comfort items, subject to visual inspection by the test administrator
• If you would like to bring an item into the test center that is not on the permitted comfort items list, please submit an accommodation request

What You Can Store in a Locker at the Test Center:

• Watches
• Electronic Aids
• Writing Utensils
• Thesaurus
• Radios
• Ear Plugs
• Lip Balm
• Pagers
• Stereos
• Pamphlets
• Dictionaries
• Cell Phones
• Calculators
• Mobile Phones
• Scratch Paper
• Rulers
• Translators
• Communication Devices

What You CAN’T Bring to the Test Center:

Food, drink, and candy are not allowed unless expressly pre-authorized as an accommodation.

Weapons, including firearms, knives, or any object that could be used as a weapon, are prohibited from the test center, including the testing room and waiting areas. This policy also pertains to off-duty law enforcement and persons with conceal and carry permits.

The exam includes one (1) optional 10-minute break which you can take after the first section OR after the second section. If you take your break after the first section, you will not have the option to take another break after the second section. There will be on-screen instructions that you must follow in order to take your break, and it’s important to note the following:

• You must wait until you see the specific scheduled break message during your exam to commence your break.
• If you elect to skip the break, your exam will automatically start in 60 seconds.
• During your break, you may leave your desk to use the restroom, but you must leave your camera running.
• You may not access your phone, or any other devices or prohibited materials during break. You may NOT alter settings at your desk/workstation.
• If you do not return from your break in the allotted time, the extra time spent on your break will be deducted from the next section of your exam.

Note: If you leave your computer during your exam at a time other than your optional break, the proctor will end your session and you will be unable to continue testing.

Checking in to Your Exam

Security measures are in place for consistency and fairness, and to help ensure that you are able to perform your best on test day. To make certain of a safe and secure test environment, on test day test takers will:

• Present appropriate identification
• Provide a palm vein scan (where permitted by law)
• Provide a digital signature stating that you understand and agree to the Test Taker Rules & Agreement
• Sit for a digital photograph

What is a Palm Vein Scan?

As part of the test center check-in process, you will need to provide your palm vein pattern (i.e. a palm vein scan) as proof of identification. The palm vein reader biometric technology ensures that each test taker has a single GMAT record, preventing people from taking the test for others. The palm vein reader is part of the ongoing effort by GMAC to maintain test integrity, to prevent people from taking the test for others, and to ensure that the exam is a fair measure of everyone’s ability.

GMAC cares about our test takers, and we want to encourage all individuals interested in pursuing a graduate degree in business to not engage with or fall victim to bad actors. Often, services and individuals purporting to help candidates attain high scores through improper means are scams that cheat and extort candidates out of their money. We encourage test takers to notify us of any security concerns or suspicions of cheating at testsecurity@gmac.com.