Bringing stuff to exam center

[aojfifjoaisjaiosdj]

This is for the GRE. What do I have to bring to the exam center apart from my ID? Do I need to bring the exam receipt or anything like that?

 

Also, what are you allowed to bring? Can you bring candy, drinks and a pencil?

Edited August 22, 2014 by Chiki

[shadowclaw]

I don't remember if I had to bring the confirmation e-mail or anything like that. Hopefully someone else can answer that question However, besides your ID and possibly the receipt, you can bring nothing else. You actually can't even bring your ID into the testing room with you. At least that's how the test center I went to worked. They assigned me a locker to put my ID and car keys in. They only thing I could bring in with me was the key to the locker. They wouldn't even let me bring my own pencils (which the GRE website specifically tells you to bring) or a piece of paper that had the school and department codes written on it. I had both in my pocket when I went to go into the testing room, and they noticed the bulge in my pocket and asked me what it was. When I told them, they were really, really rude to me about it. Instead of saying, "Oh sorry, we provide you pencils, please put them in the locker," they very sternly told me that nothing could come into the room with me and that my test could be cancelled for trying to bring them in.

 

I remember them telling me that if I wanted to go to the bathroom, I had to raise my hand and someone would escort me. I'm not sure if they would let you get up to get a drink, though, and definitely don't plan on food.

[bsharpe269]

You can bring that stuff to keep in your locker for the break in the middle

[TakeruK]

For the General GRE, which I took at a "Prometric" testing center: I brought my ID and the piece of paper they mailed to me which confirms my exam date and time and registration number. I was only allowed to bring two pencils, a pencil sharpener and an eraser into the room. Everything else went in a locker outside of the testing room (I guess I also had the locker key with me at the testing center). No scrap paper allowed--they provided the paper. Each testing station had a computer and headphones (no sound was played for the GRE test but the headphones are very good quality and can block out other people's scratching and typing noises). If I wanted to drink or have snacks, I could do so during the short breaks between sections (or the long break) or just give up test time in order to access items in my locker. 

 

For the Subject GRE, I took it twice in a classroom. Only pencils, erasers, sharpener, bottle of water, and our ID were allowed with us. Everything else goes in your backpack that goes to the front of the room (if you don't want to do this, don't bring anything else with you on test day). Subject tests are paper booklets, so the scrap paper was part of the book.

[aojfifjoaisjaiosdj]

Locker? I doubt they'll have a locker here where I live. 

 

I hope they'll give us scrap paper here. I doubt I'll pass the quantitative section without it.

 

Ok then, so my ID, a piece of paper, 2 pencils, a sharpener and an eraser.

 

And I have to leave my watch elsewhere I think.

Edited August 22, 2014 by Chiki

[Vene]

Are you doing the computer or paper based test? Either way, follow this link and it will spell out exactly what you can and cannot bring.

[geographyrocks]

I don't remember if I had to bring the confirmation e-mail or anything like that. Hopefully someone else can answer that question However, besides your ID and possibly the receipt, you can bring nothing else. You actually can't even bring your ID into the testing room with you. At least that's how the test center I went to worked. They assigned me a locker to put my ID and car keys in. They only thing I could bring in with me was the key to the locker. They wouldn't even let me bring my own pencils (which the GRE website specifically tells you to bring) or a piece of paper that had the school and department codes written on it. I had both in my pocket when I went to go into the testing room, and they noticed the bulge in my pocket and asked me what it was. When I told them, they were really, really rude to me about it. Instead of saying, "Oh sorry, we provide you pencils, please put them in the locker," they very sternly told me that nothing could come into the room with me and that my test could be cancelled for trying to bring them in.

I remember them telling me that if I wanted to go to the bathroom, I had to raise my hand and someone would escort me. I'm not sure if they would let you get up to get a drink, though, and definitely don't plan on food.

I had the same experience except that they let me take in one piece of candy. The kicker is that I had to unwrap it in front of them and then place it on a tissue that they provided. Then THEY took it into the room and placed it by the computer. Lol smh Edited August 23, 2014 by geographyrocks

[TakeruK]

I had the same experience except that they let me take in one piece of candy. The kicker is that I had to unwrap it in front of them and then place it on a tissue that they provided. Then THEY took it into the room and placed it by the computer. Lol smh

 

Hahaha I am having a hilarious time visualizing this happening!

[Vene]

I had the same experience except that they let me take in one piece of candy. The kicker is that I had to unwrap it in front of them and then place it on a tissue that they provided. Then THEY took it into the room and placed it by the computer. Lol smh

I am legitimately impressed.

[shadowclaw]

I had the same experience except that they let me take in one piece of candy. The kicker is that I had to unwrap it in front of them and then place it on a tissue that they provided. Then THEY took it into the room and placed it by the computer. Lol smh

Hahaha that made my day. I guess you could have slipped a secret transmitter to someone on the outside in it!

[aojfifjoaisjaiosdj]

I have the GRE in a few hours and I have a question. If I have to pee during the 10 minute break, do I need to ask for permission? Can I just leave the room without talking to anyone?

[avflinsch]

I took the computer based exam at a Prometrics center - I was given a locker, and told to put everything in there, wallet, watch, cell phone, pens/pencil & jacket.

 

NOTHING was allowed in the testing room except the key to the locker. Pencils & paper were supplied. Pockets needed to be inverted on entry & exit to the testing room, and I was security wanded also.

 

I have worked on high tech military installations with less security.

[TakeruK]

I have the GRE in a few hours and I have a question. If I have to pee during the 10 minute break, do I need to ask for permission? Can I just leave the room without talking to anyone?

 

This response might come too late but it could help others.

 

I had to tell the front desk staff that I wanted to use the bathroom and then I had to sign out (writing down the time), then they gave me a key. When I came back, I had to sign in again and they went through the whole security check stuff (empty pockets etc.). So, go to the washroom at the beginning of your break to not miss out on time for this!

[Gvh]

This is most likely a stupid question but I assume you can find the schools and codes on the computer to submit your scores to? You can't bring anything into the testing room - surely they don't expect you to memorize departmental codes.

[TakeruK]

This is most likely a stupid question but I assume you can find the schools and codes on the computer to submit your scores to? You can't bring anything into the testing room - surely they don't expect you to memorize departmental codes.

 

Yes, the screen on the test is a lot like the form on the ETS website when you register / pay for additional score reports. You can search by school (there is a list A-Z, but you can also type in like "Harvard" or "Ohio" and it will work like a search engine. Once you pick the school, you can then choose from a list of departments that accept GRE scores at that school (again, this is searchable). So you don't have to memorize anything!

 

However, there are some things that might be helpful to remember about the four free schools before going into the test:

 

1. You should know whether the program you are applying to wants you to have both the institution code *and* the department code, or just the institution code. This is especially true if you are applying to more than one program at a school--in these case, you might not want to have a department code to ensure that both departments can get the score (i.e. check with the school before you write the GRE to find out what they want you to do).

 

2. If they want a department code, if you are in a multidisclipinary program, make sure you know which program code is the right one. 

 

3. Also check to make sure the program you are applying to doesn't have its own separate institution code. At one school, there was a separate "institute for planetary science" (not exact name but you get the idea) that was run by the planetary science department. This institute has a separate institution code than the University it was attached to and I didn't know where to submit it and just guessed. I forgot what I guessed but it turns out I was wrong and I had to resend the scores!

 

So, no need to memorize all the numbers, but definitely look them up beforehand so that you are familiar with any potential pitfalls

[Gvh]

Thanks TakeruK!

[Vene]

3. Also check to make sure the program you are applying to doesn't have its own separate institution code. At one school, there was a separate "institute for planetary science" (not exact name but you get the idea) that was run by the planetary science department. This institute has a separate institution code than the University it was attached to and I didn't know where to submit it and just guessed. I forgot what I guessed but it turns out I was wrong and I had to resend the scores!

To add to this be careful if your school of interest has a similar name to a different school. I accidentally sent a score to the State University of New York College at Buffalo instead of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.