Basically just like a tote to keep my crap (calculator, water, snack, pencils, ect) in? Or will they take it away or force me to put it at the front of the room?
You’ll stick it under your chair and zip it closed, no problem.
Most of the testing centers I have been at have allowed it, but one particularly stringent one required all bags to be placed in the front of the room (my high school also requires this for final exams, so some teachers/proctors may be following what they normally do in their classrooms).
Ultimately, it’s up to the proctor, but I would take a bag if it makes it easier to carry everything that you’re walking in with. Considering that you won’t be walking around with most of the contents during the test, you just need the bag for walking in and walking out, and having a bag for that won’t be an issue (even if they ask you to put the bag in the front of the room for the exam, they’ll allow you the chance to take things out of it during breaks).