4 Issues Encountered By Students During An Online Exam And How To Solve Them
Each season, schools organize for exams to test their student's level of understanding of concepts that have been previously handled. Generally, most students take exams negatively, while about 60% take them positively and work well to prepare.
While we primarily wish to focus on the positive side of exams, this does not mean we discredit the fact that some students hate exams. Exams are compulsory whether a student likes them or not. This article provides important concepts that may help each student, including those who take it negatively, to benefit and possibly change their attitude.
It becomes even hard if the exam is done online but you're not prepared for it. A little preparation is what you need to crack the hurdle and focus on the best grades in your exams. Consider some issues that most students deal with, including you, and how you can best overcome each one of them.
An online exam could be an examination assessment undertaken virtually via a computer device, whether a desktop or laptop using the internet. It can be done remotely in any location, provided there is a stable internet connection.
An Unstable Internet Connection
This issue mostly affects students who live in very remote areas or underdeveloped towns with little or no access to a stable network. This is unavoidable, especially when the whole area is affected.
Another instance is where there is a stable internet that could manually go off during the online exam. This will disrupt the entire session since exams have a timer. Has any of this ever happened to you? If yes, you must've panicked before thinking of the way forward. These glitches are very normal, and your professor must understand that some situations are not controllable. However, what will you do if this happens to you during an online exam? The following information should be helpful;
During an online examination assessment, you can choose to do a proctored exam where you are required to record the assignment and send it directly in case the network disrupts your examination period.
Exam Anxiety
This could also be referred to as exam fever. This mostly happens to those individuals who are conscious of the outcome of the results. In the process of wishing to give it your best, you end up getting an exam fever. Do you know why this is risky? It's because when you are busy worrying about how to handle the exam, you end up forgetting the little knowledge previously stored in the hippocampus, which could have helped in the memory of short-term information.
They get away with this issue is;
- Calm down
- Take a walk
- Workout
- Take Plenty Of Water
Don't assume that by worrying a lot about your upcoming exams, you'll pass them. Instead, take a deep breath the moment you notice you have tantrums. These will help you feel relaxed.
Give your mind a break by experiencing a different environment, one different from books, paper, or even the internet. Leave your phone at home, or don't use it when walking around. Use this time to meditate and relax.
Regular workouts help reduce tension because it relaxes the mind and makes you feel comfortable even as the exams approach. Set aside time during the day to work out, even for as little as 20 minutes.
Water adds oxygen to your body, improving your breathing system and relaxation. Make it a routine to take a glass of water frequently, especially when you have too much anxiety.
While anxiety might prevent you from performing well with your daily activities, it can be controlled because it is not an underlying condition.
One practical thing to try will have to do with writing down personal points that you might apply when anxiety weighs you down. Here's an example:
"When I feel anxious during an exam, I will…."
"When I am anxious about any upcoming exam, I will not…."
Give serious thought to these subjects, seriously analyze yourself, and apply whatever you wrote down to see if it can work.
Lack of Study Plan Before Exams
A study plan might be something that you can make for yourself before even sitting for an exam. It involves subjects you are studying this season, the duration you'd like to take in one study session, and the expected results concerning performance. However, you might fail to succeed in an exam even after preparing for a study plan. Why is this the case?
Consider the following reasons. While looking at the following reasons, truthfully examine yourself and see ways you can improve in each of them.
- Having Unrealistic Goals
- Expecting Change Too Soon
While setting goals for yourself is not bad, sometimes you might set goals that are way too high for you to reach. You notice that you become discouraged when you don't reach that goal. For example, your performance in a financial exam last season was grade C, so when setting goals for this season, you aspire to get an A+. This is so unrealistic, and if possible, it's a miracle. Why not start with a lower grade and then escalate as you improve your performance?
Change is gradual, so when setting a study plan for yourself, understand that performance improvement will require much effort and time. Don't be too harsh on yourself and expect a miraculous improvement. Gradually work towards improving your performance. This will give you the motivation you need to keep going.
If you have not prepared a study plan before the exam, don't panic. There is always a next time to try out. Why not set aside time to think about what you might need in your study plan before even getting ready for your upcoming exam? Try to get break sessions in between to help your mind relax and alternate the subjects so that if you handle theory right now, the next few hours should be spent handling calculations or practicals where necessary.
With a better study plan, you will avoid procrastination which is a dream-killer for your performance. You will also avoid getting anxious and lack proper preparation.
Doubts On How To Approach The Question
Have you found yourself in a situation where you know the answer but lack the words to express it in a written way? That happens to many people, and sadly, most students fail very simple questions just because of a lack of expression. In instances where you get anxious, it can be even more challenging because you will most likely doubt whether you are writing the correct answer.
Another instance is where the concepts are similar, and you interchange one question for the other. You must read the questions carefully, even if it means you have to read one question thrice. It would be better to give one correct answer than 4 wrong ones intending to finish on time.
While sitting for the online exam, focus on what you've been asked and not what you should have been asked. This will help you remember what you read previously and help with relaxation. Note which question to begin with and which to end with so as not to waste time on a question that might seem hard and concentrate on the one you think you have the answer to.
The following points should help you know how to arrange your concepts for easier understanding:
- Use Examples
- Arrange Your Points From The Most Relevant To The Least Relevant
- Get Straight To The Point
Examples will help your professor know that you understood the question. Even if it seems hard to put your concepts into writing, try giving real-life examples or, even best, the example that was used in class.
This is crucial for you to get more points. When someone marking your paper reads your first points and notices they are correct and well explained, they won't have to read the entire explanation. It saves time and earns you marks quickly.
Avoid fumbling over one explanation, writing paragraphs instead of just writing points with short and relevant examples.
Make sure the language you use is also easy to understand and clear. You can make the aim of practicing using past papers and studying the answers by writing down how to improve next.
Looking For Extra Help?
We give students extra help in their online exams and how to succeed in their exams by offering skills that will give them tips for passing exams. We also handle proctored exams for students where you are assured of the best grades because our online examination helpers are professionally trained and good at what they do. We also have our tutoring team, which are specialized in teaching and implementing the strategies mentioned above. Reach out to us, and we will respond promptly.
Conclusion
Online exams can be challenging with issues such as a lack of a study plan and strategy, being unsure of how to approach the question, exam anxiety, and an unstable internet connection. This article has listed ways to improve and prepare well for your exams and the issues that affect each remedy. Careful consideration in each subject will help you with enough skills you need to help you get higher grades because of how you answer the questions.