I can't imagine why you would be so stupid to allow phones to exams.

Is this normal in the US?

Usually the rule is you can't have a phone out of your pocket or backpack during a test. Students still have phones on them. If they disallowed that too, how would that work, an airport security style check going in?

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bombcar 9 minutes ago | parent [-]

Yes, that kind of thing can and is done, if the stakes are high enough.

	▲	traderj0e 5 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		They do it for big standardized tests like the MCAT. If I went to school and saw this for every exam, I'd think wow I'm in a bad school, not that there's anything wrong with it per se but it's not commonly done.