Storing personal belongings

A "personal belonging" is any item a candidate brings to the test center. Most personal belongings are not allowed in the testing room often due to security reasons. For example, candidates can hide notes in a purse or briefcase or share information about an exam through an electronic device.

Candidates are allowed to take only their primary ID, comfort aids, and approved items into the testing room. All prohibited personal belongings must be stored in a secure area or kept outside of the test center, such as in the candidate's vehicle. This information is included in the rules agreement that the candidate receives and signs. Candidates are informed that Pearson is not responsible for forgotten, lost, or stolen items.

Candidates are discouraged from bringing many personal belongings to the test center because the items must be stored in a secure space and are not permitted in the testing room.

During the admission process, an admission step in Admissions Manager will direct you to tell candidates where they can store their personal belongings. When you see this admission step, follow these steps:

Explain to the candidate that no personal belongings are allowed in the testing room except for their ID, comfort aids, and approved items (if applicable). All other personal belongings must be kept in a secure space provided by your test center or returned to the candidate's vehicle.

For more information about what items are and are not allowed in the testing room, see Personal belongings that must be stored, Permitted personal items, and Comfort aids.

Some exam sponsors may also allow items such as personal calculators or reference materials. Check the exam sponsor's documentation for specific requirements about which items may be brought into the testing room.

If a candidate insists on taking an unapproved item into the testing room, explain the policy again. Ask the candidate to store the item, and advise the candidate that you need to report the situation if they do not cooperate. If the candidate still refuses to store the item, follow the process in Responding to candidate misconduct. Create a case immediately, and include information about the type of item the candidate refuses to store.

All candidate wallets must be stored. However, if a candidate insists on not storing their wallet, inspect it before allowing the candidate to take it into the testing room. Ensure that it does not contain loose pieces of paper that can have notes written on them and that it can fit into a candidate's pockets.

When a candidate is taking a break, the candidate is permitted to access stored personal items if permitted by the exam sponsor. See Break policies, and always check the exam sponsor's documentation for specific requirements.

Show the candidate where to store their personal belongings.

A secure space for candidate belongings can be any space in which candidates cannot access the belongings during the exam and in which the items are safe. Neither you, other test administrators, the candidate, nor other candidates should have access to the items during a candidate's exam.

Lockers, locked drawers, locked cabinets, or a locked room can be used for storage at PVTCs. Center-owned, locked bags or backpacks work well for storage at PVTCs. Candidates know their belongings are safe at their feet, but they cannot access them during the exam. Unlock the bag or backpack after the candidate returns the erasable noteboard.

PVTC Selects are required to have one locker per delivery workstation for storage of a candidate's personal belongings.

A test administrator's desk drawer or out-of-reach shelf space is not acceptable as a secure storage area.

PVTC Government Centers that are correctional facilities are not required to provide locked storage in the check-in area or testing room. Instruct candidates to store any personal items away from the testing area.

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