Studying Tips for Online Exams
We all know the struggle of commuting and stumbling into a designated examination room at our universities and colleges. But what if it’s virtual and not an open book test? Here are some helpful tips to help post-secondary students prepare for their upcoming tests.
1. Edit and shorten your notes.
During lectures, seminars, and readings, a lot of information is usually thrown at us and we are left with paragraphs of amazing points. However, not ALL of this information will be included in a one-two hour exam. You will need to shorten your notes by pulling out only the key points that are mentioned on the exam review sheet. A good way to do this is to use sticky notes to extract the most useful concepts or topics that will be addressed on the exam. It’s a great way to break down the importance of each lecture/seminar or reading, and it can be used on future study sheets.
Avoid highlighting, because it takes you away from making connections with your answers and draws you towards individual facts that might not be helpful for essay questions (Hoogendoorn, 2015). By shortening your notes, you will grasp a better understanding of the subject and be able to explain its importance on the exam.
2. Make a simple study sheet.
Having too many words clustered together in a single page can give you a huge headache. The crowdedness could easily make you confused and there would be simply too much for your brain to take in. Separate the key concepts and jot down brief notes that best describe the chosen topic. Use diagrams, charts, or graphs to divide the different concepts across your study sheet. Take advantage of your highlighters, coloured pens, or coloured font! These will be great for separating the headings, subheadings, captions, and jot notes. Writing in just one colour will most likely add onto the crowdedness of the page and thus, cause further confusion, unless you space out your words (Lindberg, 2018).
3. Quiz yourself.
You can use Quizlet, Kahoot, or the old-fashioned cue cards to do this. Time yourself between 1 to 5 minutes for each written topic, concept, or question, and then scribble as much information as you can on a separate piece of paper or Google Doc file. The key is to not remember, but to understand the concepts that you have been taught in class. If applicable, connect your answers to a key theme or statement that has always been brought up by your professor.
4. Find a quiet spot.
The last thing you would want to hear is one of your family members or friends calling on the phone while you are studying for an exam. Place yourself in a secluded spot with your notes and textbooks. Inform your household members that you will be studying for an important examination, so they will give you some space and quiet time. I wouldn’t recommend studying in your room, unless you’re comfortable with the temptations of your bed sitting nearby. Our beds serve as a form of relaxation for the mind and body, which sends signals to the brain and tells us to rest, instead of work (Akil, 2019). The stress and toils of studying, combined with a nearby bed ultimately causes our brain to shut down and resolve to sleep.
In addition, switch off your phone and other electronic devices that may cause distraction, along with social media notifications. The constant pinging and vibrations disrupts our brains’ thinking process and concentration (Wood, 2021). The sounds will make students cave in and check the alerting apps, effectively gaining their attention when it should be used for studying. It becomes a repetitive process that will eventually drain all of their motivation. Don’t forget to have some snacks and beverages on the side, like granola bars and water, so you will have energy to continue working (Jones, 2020). Remember, hydration is key! Eating certain snacks can improve brain cognition and help us tackle down that exam.
5. Review the exam guidelines.
Guidelines are crucial for test preparation. Usually, professors will announce or publish the exam format, exact date and time, number of questions, materials needed (e.g., calculator, software, etc.), how much time will be given to write the test, and the key topics or themes that will be addressed. Be prepared for multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, comparative, and essay questions. If you are unsure, ask your instructor as soon as possible before the day of the examination, so that you will know what to study for. After that, take a closer look at the topics that are listed on the exam review sheet and be sure to include them in your notes, prior to studying.
In conclusion, I hope that these tips will assist you with your online exams. These examinations can be very challenging, especially when students come to class unprepared and overwhelmed. By narrowing down important concepts and testing yourselves to see if you understand the course material, it will greatly benefit your studying habits.
Akil, H. (2019, March 20). How Stress Alters the Brain and Behaviour. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.brainfacts.org/neuroscience-in-society/law-economics-and-ethics/2019/how-stress-alters-the-brain-and-behavior-032019
Hoogendoorn, C. (2015, October 15). The Neuroscience of Active Learning. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/writingacrossthecurriculum/2015/10/15/the-neuroscience-of-active-learning/
Jones, R. P. (2020, November 30). The neuroscience of effective studying. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://students.ubc.ca/ubclife/neuroscience-effective-studying
Lindberg, E. (2018, May 31). Sketch Your Neuroscience Notes. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.brainfacts.org/for-educators/for-the-classroom/2018/sketch-your-neuroscience-notes-053118
Wood, C. (2021, January 8). How Smartphones Hijack the Brain. Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://www.brainfacts.org/neuroscience-in-society/tech-and-the-brain/2021/how-smartphones-hijack-the-brain-010821
