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A Practical Approach: How to Get Ready for an Online Examination

Getting Ready for an Online Examination. 

Exam preparation and revision are the essential factors influencing the success of a student. All learners with the desire to excel or achieve their online courses' objective must take their revision seriously.But thorough revision is not an easy task for both the instructors and students. This article willguide students through exam revision and preparation.

There are many types of tasks and questions that students are likely to encounter on an eLearning platform.

In certain scenarios, the moderator may be more specific on the subject, giving more illustrations on the Moodle.These guidelines are made on the principles of an excellent revision plan and preparations for online examination.The revision process aims at the learner's success by giving tips on what they must emphasize on. It uses the best methods understood by many online students and aids them with the ability to recall.

Best Practices duringOnline Examination Preparation & Revision. 

A favorable learning environment is also a key factor for effective revision. Below are the best revision practices to prepare online students adequately for examination:

1.Examination planning. 

The exam norm is that the students must revisit coursework before going into the exam room.With proper guidance on the various taught tasks, any online student is well placed to excel in online tests.Planning for your exams will require you to look deep into the various types of questions like an essay, multiple-choice, or short answer questions that are likely to be tested.

Once you have your list, allocate each question the time your examiner may expect you to spend on each.Time is an essential factor in taking any examination because it enables you to plan well and ensure all tasks are attended to.In the course of your revision, you need to allocate the time to work out each question to help you finish your exam on time.

Remember, submitting your work in time is part of the examination regulation that must be given much attention. The normal time allocated for many exams is between one to three hours.Therefore, online students are advised to work with a good pace—not too fast or slow—to remain within the exam schedule. Next, creating a suitable environment during revision familiarizes you with the actual exam room.

Students should use a quiet room (free from distractions) to conduct their exam preparation exercises. Those sharing a room can use earplugs or use headphones to minimize all manner of distractions.And for the best study position, the learner needs a piece of flat surface furniture, for example, lockers and study tables.Learners must also organize their PC, laptops, phones, or other working devices set and confirm functionality under an IT expert's supervision.

2. Revising & practicing for online examination. 

Revision and practice for online tests begin with preparing a timetable to help you balance all the topics equally.Your timetable should begin as soon as you intend to start your revision until the exam date.Plan your timetable well and give yourself breaks, or time off, to attend to other duties you would like to do, for example, washing.Take all your revisions exercises the same way you would treat your job and be passionate about it.

Ensure all your revision sessions are updated with a task to ensure you focus ahead and meet the objective set by the end.Identify all the major topics listed by the tutors or lectures during revision or the areas emphasized on assignments.Be keen on the topics that recur in past papers in different modules but be reminded that setting strategies keep changing.

Having listed all the topics, you can easily tell what you understand and what you don't and discover the areas you need to revisit before taking your tests.Simplify the revision task by dividing it into smaller sections that will enhance your level of understanding.Below is a list of revision techniques to help you prepare adequately for your online examination:

• Revision pace. 

Studies have indicated that one of the best methods to pace up online revision exercise is called Pomodoro.The method requires the student to pay attention for twenty-five minutes and then take a break of five minutes.It also requires the learner to revisit the hard or complex parts of their study while the mind is still fresh.

Pomodoro encourages the student to go through simpler areas when they are almost winding up their revision or when exhausted.It also encourages the learner to repeat each title as they highlight the various theories, keywords, topics, subtitles, concepts, terminologies, or formulas that might be tested.

Come up with better ways to understand further, for example, by converting the information studied into diagrams, charts, or pictures.The learner can also use symbols, different font size, or even color to create more emphasis. The strategy also encourages you to do what can help you understand further or master the concepts properly, for example, practicing how a formula works severally.

• Creating revision props. 

Revision props entail using index cards where you have a set of questions on one side and the answers on the other or past papers and blank maps.The idea is to help you remember and test if you have understood the various concepts that are likely to be tested.It also requires the learner to prepare a checklist of what they ought to have revised and mark completed tasks ahead of the online examination.

• Examination practice. 

Exam practice is to help you familiarize yourself with the various conditions in an examination room.

This may include:

• Self-examination, using a past paper or set questions within the required time frame, for example, two hours.
• Exam practice can also be done by drafting questions from what you have read, which are more relevant to your study module.

3.The best ways to prepare a day before the actual examination. 

Here are some important things to iron out a day to the exam:

• Make sure all the gadgets you will need for the exams are in perfect working condition. Your IT consultant can do this.
• Ensure that your devices are fully charged.
• Check your internet connectivity, and be sure it's working by trying to upload documents.
• Get all the necessary equipment you will need, for example, a pen, pencil, and a notebook for planning your time and breaking down your questions.
• Ensure you have all the requirements like a calculator if you will need one.
• Creating your exam environment.
• When working in a shared room, let everyone know when you will be taking your exams to reduce distractions.
• Keep reminding yourself of the exam duration, and if possible, you can write it down on each page of your test paper.
• Remain focused, and in case of anxiety, practice the breathings and have your bottle of drinking water to ensure you are hydrated.

Lastly, prepare a meal to eat before going into the exam room because hunger can be a major distraction.

4.What occurs during exams. 

Begin taking your examination when you are set to;

• Carefully read the instructions while taking notes on the important components.
• Write down your time plan for the rest by dividing your time and allocating each question, depending on the marks allocated.
• Set your deadline to ensure time doesn't cut you out.
• Focus and re-read difficult instructions and questions once more
• You're ready to skip the question and work out the others instead of taking too much time on one task then come back to solve it later. Later on, you can go back and write down all you know about the question and then analyze it to see if you can find an answer.

For troubleshooting emergencies, quickly get your technical guide to assist you as soon as possible.

Common examination Tips

Below are a few tips that are found in most exams:

• Reading the instructions carefully and jot down all the required components so that you remember to attend to them.
• Try to understand the terminologies within.
• Come up with a time plan by allocating each quiz time to ensure you answer and go through your work before submitting your work.

It is also advisable to start with the easier task to avoid wasting too much time thinking of how to go about the complex tasks.

Dealing with Online Examination anxiety. 

Anxiety is the result of fearful thoughts that come to a student's mind during an examination. It can happen to anyone, no matter how prepared they are.

Some of the ways to deal with exam anxiety include:

• Taking a heavy breathe inside through your nose for at least five seconds while expanding your stomach
• Holding your breath for another five seconds.
• Breathing out through your nose for five seconds.

As you practice the above, be sure to focus on getting the air in and out of your body.

How to reduce anxiety. 

The following activities can help you reduce anxiety as you prepare to take your exams:

• Studying a non-course related context
• Watching movies
• Singing favorite songs or tunes
• Listening to music
• Doing physical body exercises
• Engaging in other hobby-related activities like drawing, playing, and cooking.

These activities can prove useful when trying to deal with online examination anxiety.

Bottom line

Failing to plan is planning to fail. Follow the above techniques to revise adequately for your oncoming and future examinations.