What to bring..

[hyperblade01]

This is aimed more at the people that have already sat the UMAT

I'm at Caufield racecourse, 1.30pm.

Basically water, pencil, eraser and photo-id document are the only things allowed. If i were to bring a wallet with public transport ticket and money, would they take it away for safe keeping? Does anyone know if storage facilities are present and if so, would I need to get there early by alot?


I can live without a bag or food but honestly, they should allow a wallet...right? 

[shinny]

From what I remember (unless I'm confusing this with a uni exam or something), they let you chuck your bags and stuff at the front of the room. Isn't really protective against theft though.

[Toothpaste]

I remember that they make you leave your bags with other people's bags in an allocated space in the room (on ground). So there's something like a parking lot for bags. Just remember which bag you brought in so you don't spend too much time searching for it in the end.

Those things you mentioned aren't illegal. They wouldn't confiscate stuff like that since it's a bother for them to give back/hold back. I don't see why they would anyway. If things are generally non-disruptive/not intended for cheating then there's no point of the supervisors taking it off you.

I don't know/forgot the policy with phones in UMAT, but in uni exams they can fine you (in the hundreds $AUD) for having a phone on you (on = in pockets/on your seat/---) even if it's accidental.

Also, If I remember correctly, I came late last year (according to my watch back then) ... can't remember the exact lateness but was probably 15 - 25ish minutes (8am session). Panicked on the train and felt like crap due to an early wake, but the test starts well after the stated time (it just allows for the enormous number of students to settle down into their seats). It's not a reason to be late though. Too early is also bad because you'll have to wait for the room to fill up with people, etc (and people like me who suck at arriving on time).

The panic and being pissed off at Connex might explain my horrendous section two score ... apparently your mood effects that section pretty significantly lol.

[NE2000]

So what's the deal with phones? A lot of people need them to call for a lift etc.

[hyperblade01]

So what's the deal with phones? A lot of people need them to call for a lift etc.

From what Toothbrush said, I think if your phone is in your bag its alright. Similar to how VCAA exams run then, because @ my school phones aren't allowed on you either and also you can dump your bags at the front without problem.


Just wasn't too sure how strict they were



Guess I'm going to have decide what time i should arrive now...I cannot just sit there without falling asleep hehe

[Gloamglozer]

Couldn't you just turn your phone off for the duration of the exam and keep it in your pockets?  That way, if you do have your phone in your bag, you don't have to panic if someone goes through your bag provided what shinny said above was correct.

Surely they wouldn't go through your pockets to see if you have a phone on you...

[shinny]

Couldn't you just turn your phone off for the duration of the exam and keep it in your pockets?  That way, if you do have your phone in your bag, you don't have to panic if someone goes through your bag provided what shinny said above was correct.

Surely they wouldn't go through your pockets to see if you have a phone on you...

They wouldn't, but they might see the outline or something. Even so, in uni exams, before I went to the toilet, they had me pat my pockets first to show I didn't have a phone on me, and it's particularly for this reason that even a turned-off phone isn't allowed whatsoever on you. Whilst obviously it's not smart just putting your phone on the floor, I doubt anyone's going to steal an entire bag though, so just bring a bag along and chuck your stuff in there.

[Gloamglozer]

So at uni exams, they're actually much tougher than VCAA supervisors.

Although you're right about people not going to steal an entire bag, wouldn't you be worried of people searching through the bags since you said the place "...isn't really protective against theft..."?

[ninwa]

If i were to bring a wallet with public transport ticket and money, would they take it away for safe keeping?

When I did it I didn't bring a wallet. I just had my ticket and money in a pocket in my jacket which I had over my chair. To get into my phone you need 2 different passwords so I wasn't really worried about that being stolen but I didn't wanna leave money in a bag up the front.

[shinny]

So at uni exams, they're actually much tougher than VCAA supervisors.

Although you're right about people not going to steal an entire bag, wouldn't you be worried of people searching through the bags since you said the place "...isn't really protective against theft..."?

Well it's in the exam hall so everyone's going to be doing the exam except the supervisors, so people can't exactly search through your stuff. If I remember correctly, you left row by row or so, so it's kind of sus if someone leaves their row and starts searching through people's stuff instead of directly grabbing theirs and leaving.

[Fyrefly]

Couldn't you just turn your phone off for the duration of the exam and keep it in your pockets?  That way, if you do have your phone in your bag, you don't have to panic if someone goes through your bag provided what shinny said above was correct.

Surely they wouldn't go through your pockets to see if you have a phone on you...

They wouldn't, but they might see the outline or something. Even so, in uni exams, before I went to the toilet, they had me pat my pockets first to show I didn't have a phone on me, and it's particularly for this reason that even a turned-off phone isn't allowed whatsoever on you. Whilst obviously it's not smart just putting your phone on the floor, I doubt anyone's going to steal an entire bag though, so just bring a bag along and chuck your stuff in there.

For Monash exams at Caulfield Racecourse, when my friend and I used the toilets inside the venue before the exams started... we were asked to leave our bags outside the bathroom.
They probably figured we could take out notes, put them somewhere, then come check them during the exam during a 'toilet break' or something.
Yet, if someone really wanted to do this... they could simply keep said notes on their person (and either put them somewhere in the bathroom, or keep them in their pocket).

Also... for Monash exams... anything on the floor under your desk does not count as being on your person.
Obviously you can't have visible notes or something at your feet, but we don't have to put our bags at the front of the room like you guys do... we put them at our feet.

I've also never had an examiner tell me off for having food (think skittles), my glasses, my glasses case, or my mini-clock on the desk (none of which, strictly speaking, are permitted).
I've only ever been asked to open my glasses case to show there was nothing concealed in there.

Oh, and an invigilator has once asked me to look directly at her during the exam so that she could check that the face on my ID card was indeed mine.
I don't blame her for that one tho... the ID card printer thingy threw a spasm when it printed mine... it printed my face in interesting hues of blue XD


Anywayz... if you *just* want to take your wallet... I'd take a jacket with you, put the wallet in your jacket pocket, and sit the jacket over your chair.
Don't take your phone with you if you don't intend to take a bag, because then you'll have troubling keeping it safe during the exam.
If you really think you'll need to make a call, make sure you've got a couple of coins in your wallet so you can use a pay phone.