Ann Gardner

Are you suffering from stress due to online exam anxiety? You may be wondering what an online exam is, and how does it work.
As universities adapt to the pandemic and students adjust to it, online exams have replaced in-person exams. Although online exams can be more stressful than regular exams due to technology being used, they can also be easier to prepare for and create a more calm environment than regular exams.
What is an internet exam?
An online exam is an online test which a candidate takes to gauge their knowledge about a subject. This is done using an online exam platform that candidates can access remotely.
Online examinations often include answer processing modules. These allow the markers to issue grades or results as soon as the candidates have completed the test. This fully automated exam system allows for faster and more efficient presentation of final results.
Candidates are required to answer the questions within a time limit when taking an online test. When the online examination is finished, the test window will close and institutions will receive real-time reporting. If there is a multiple-choice online exam, the markers evaluate the answers first, and then grade according to their assessment.
For online examinations with long-answer type questions, where the results are not automatically generated, the markers evaluate the essay answers and grade the candidates accordingly. The final results, along with grades, are then combined and sent to all candidates via email or on the respective institution's website.
What does it take to pass online exams?
Online exams work by having examiners set up the online testing environment, and then upload the question sets onto the website where the online exam takes place.
You can upload the entire information about candidates taking the online test, as well as the time slots you choose, and then send the link to them via email.
The process may vary from one institution to another, but candidates must use this link to log-in and follow a three step authentication to access their online exam.
Online exams are usually recorded and can be closely supervised for important final-year examinations by using an artificial intelligence based invigilator, or a traditional internet human invigilator.
After candidates submit answers, the online exams are auto-evaluated and generated a report. The candidates can personalize the final results and grades to be shared in HTML or PDF formats. The final online examinations can then be analyzed in detail by group members and tailored as required by examiners.
How to prepare yourself for online exams
Exam guidelines online are available.
The guidelines for online exams are essential to your success. The online exam will be held at a specific time and date. You can also check if it is possible to take the online exam anytime during the same time period.
Also, make sure to understand how long it takes to complete the online exam. Take the exam in your home or at a different location like a campus computer lab. Make sure you also pay attention any other information given by an examiner about a specific online exam structure.
Is procrastinating a problem with exam revision? We have compiled our top tips on how you can stop procrastinating to focus better on tasks.
Be familiar with the format of your exam paper
Inform yourself about the format and questions of the online exam you will be taking.
To avoid any last-minute surprises, no matter where you take the online exam, be sure to verify that your computer/laptop is working before you begin.
Make sure that you have the proper software and hardware. You also need to ensure that your internet connection, whether it is Wi-Fi or cable, works smoothly without any stuttering.
It is vital that you carefully study the lecture notes given by the examiners. Even though the exam is online, you should still study and revise the material so that you can easily find the information.
Practice online papers
Prepare for the online exam by planning your time. If you are practicing your timing skills on an online practice exam, make sure to limit your time to the same amount as the one allocated for your actual exam.
This will allow you to decide how much time you will devote to each question.
Related article from CollegeBasics: https://www.collegebasics.com/blog/how-to-get-the-best-online-exam-help/
Related Resources:
Solo study: How to prepare for online exams from home
Studying alone: How to prepare online for exams
How do online exams work?
Tips for students studying online university exams