Left-Handed 760 GMAT Scorer: Managing Sweaty Palms
A student asked yesterday, “Dustin, I have hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), what should I do during the exam?”
You’ve come to the right person! I myself suffer from severe hand sweating. When I took the exam, my sweaty hands practically gave the mouse in Taipei a free deep cleaning. What’s even scarier is that I’m left-handed! So, when I was doing the math section, it was incredibly painful:
I’d be writing down an equation, and suddenly, “Huh? Where did the ‘x’ and ‘y’ I just wrote go??” I’d lift my left hand and see ink smudges of ‘x’ and ‘y’ all over my palm…
But even with all that, I scored a 760. No fear! Anyway, back to the topic: what should students with hyperhidrosis do?
First Tactic: Simple In-Exam Coping and Self-Help
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- The Limitation of Tissues: Based on my personal experience, I asked the Taipei test center for tissues, but they were simply not enough. Some students have shared that when they took the test last week, the staff only gave them 10 tissues. When hand sweating is at its worst, 10 tissues are nowhere near enough to get through over 2 hours of the exam.
- Writing Technique: Later on, when writing equations, I made an effort to write them vertically to avoid the smudging issue.
- Changing Test Centers: This is a possible option. I later took a practice test at the Bangkok test center, and I must say, the Thai staff were incredibly kind. They gave me a whole box of household facial tissues, practically a GMAT guardian angel.
Second Tactic: The Official Channel — Applying for Test Accommodations
If you have ample time, you can consider applying for the GMAT’s official “Test Accommodations.” The application process is generally as follows:
- Prepare a Doctor’s Diagnosis: Before registering, obtain a formal, fully English diagnosis from a doctor. The document should detail the severity of your condition, how it affects your daily life and exams, whether you are undergoing treatment, and its effectiveness.
- Write a Personal Statement: Draft a personal statement thoroughly explaining how hand sweating impacts your GMAT preparation, daily life, and past exam experiences.
- Submit Your Application and Wait Patiently: Submit the above documents through the official channels on the GMAT website. The official review can take up to 25 days. If additional documentation is required, the clock resets. Therefore, it’s best to start the application 1-2 months in advance.
Potential Accommodations Provided by the Official Body:
- Extended break times
- Special equipment such as gloves, towels, etc.
- Extended exam time of 50-100% (If approved, this would be like hitting the jackpot)
- Other assistive tools that you can clearly request in your personal statement
Dustin’s Final Practical Advice
After reviewing the complex official application process above, my advice is…
Unless your situation is truly severe and you have plenty of time to prepare the application documents, I suggest trying a more practical approach first: apply antiperspirant to your palms a few days before the exam, bring a highly absorbent handkerchief to the test center, and when you enter, take a chance and ask the staff if you can bring it in.
I’ll provide the official link for Test Accommodations information for students who may need it.
Finally, I wish all students success: Sweat through the GMAT! Finish without being drenched in sweat!
