Summary
No physical scratch paper, pens, pencils, or other writing materials are permitted during The Open Group exams whether they are online-proctored exams or an exam at a test center. Pearson operates a strict clean room testing environment to protect exam integrity. However, every candidate is provided with a built‑in Scratch Pad tool within the exam software.
Use of Physical Materials
To maintain a secure and standardised testing experience:
- Physical paper, notebooks, sticky notes, whiteboards, or similar items are not allowed.
- Pens, pencils, markers, or any other writing instruments are also not permitted.
- For online-proctored exams, the proctor will require your workspace to be completely clear before the exam begins.
This policy applies to all The Open Group exams delivered through Pearson.
Using the On‑Screen Scratch Pad
A digital Scratch Pad is provided for your personal note‑taking during the exam. It replaces the need for physical rough paper.
Key Features
- You can type notes for your own use at any point during the exam.
- The Scratch Pad closes automatically when you move to the next question.
- Your notes remain saved and will reappear if you reopen the Scratch Pad later in the exam.
- All notes are permanently cleared when the exam ends.
Recommended Use
When switching back to the exam view, it is best to select the Close icon to dismiss the Scratch Pad. This ensures you return cleanly to the question interface.
Why This Matters
The clean room environment ensures:
- A fair and consistent experience for all candidates
- Protection of exam content
- Compliance with global testing security standards
The on‑screen Scratch Pad provides the functionality you need without compromising exam integrity.
For further details of the Scratch Pad, see Appendix C of the Candidate Advice Sheet.