NMAT Series: Test Day Tips

NMAT is just around the corner and you are probably a little nervous and wondering what will happen on the exam day so I created this blog post for you to have an idea of what to expect as well as what to bring and not to bring on this big day.

I must say that the they are really strict when it comes to the items that you can bring inside the testing room. To avoid stress, bring only the allowed items.

Here are the MUST brings:

1. NMAT identification form, this will serve as your pass to enter the building/testing room.
2. Valid ID (School ID, driver's license, passport or any gov't issued ID), bring at least 2.
3. Printed exam permit, available for download 1 week before the exam day.
4. Photocopy of Transcript of Records (TOR), required only from college graduates.
5. Pencils! (Mongol No. 2 or HB) with/and erasers, bring at least 2 pencils with you. Do not forget your sharpener.
6. TRANSPARENT plastic envelope, this will serve as your "bag" in the testing site.

Personal tips in the exam day:

1. Report to the testing center early (before 7 AM), especially if you are unfamiliar with the testing site. Consider your travel time going in to the venue - though NMAT is scheduled on a Sunday.
2. Attend to all your personal needs like eating breakfast, washroom breaks etc. BEFORE 7 AM as you will have to fall in line to enter the testing site - lines can be long so, go to the venue earlier so you can relax before you take the test.
3. Do NOT bring your mobile phone if you are going to the testing site alone as CEM is extra strict with the items allowed inside. ALL items NOT allowed will be left outside the building, yes outside the testing building! and there will be NO baggage counter available on site, you do NOT want your valuables being left outside the building on its own.
4. Calculators or any other gadgets are NOT allowed.
5. Wrist/smart watches are NOT allowed (based on my experience - Oct. 2017).
6. Only the transparent plastic envelope with the 'must brings' mentioned above will be allowed in the testing building. YES, this is for all the test takers' strict compliance.
7. Wear comfortable and decent clothes. Wearing of slippers are NOT allowed.
8. Bring a jacket/cardigan with you as the room is air-conditioned. Being cold should be the least of your concerns while taking the test.
9. I recommend you to buy lunch BEFORE you enter the testing site and leave it to your dorm/someone you know who'll not take the exam as it is a hassle to buy food during lunch break because there will be A LOT of people in UST and for sure all of the food establishments are full. Buying lunch early will save you time and stress which can be allocated to eating and relaxing during the quick 1 hour lunch break.
10. Bring drinking water though most (if not all) buildings in UST have drinking fountains in them and remove its label.
11. There will be a scratch paper on one side of the test paper, NO other papers/scratch will be allowed.

There you have it for my test day tips for NMAT. Feel free to ask questions and I try to answer all of it. I would like to hear from you and good luck!

*This post is based on my experience of NMAT in Manila (UST).