Showing Your Best on an Online Test

Question

Some of my best students don't demonstrate their best work on online tests. Here are some tips and strategies to help you show that computer what's going on upstairs.

Answer 1

Hello,

If I I'm understanding the question correctly, you are looking for some tips and strategies for your students when taking online exams, because they often do not perform as well as in person exams.

If this is correct, please see below. If you found my answer helpful, I would greatly appreciate your feedback and review as I am new to the platform.

Online testing is a setting where the traditional classroom atmosphere dissipates into pixels and keystrokes. It's a format that can be disorienting, even for the brightest minds. Your best students may excel in classroom settings but find the digital landscape unfamiliar and intimidating. But fear not, because even in the realm of 0s and 1s, human intellect can shine through.

1. Familiarize Before You Maximize First off, if the online test platform is new to you, take the time to get to know it. Are there practice tests or sample questions? Dive into those. Understand the interface, the types of questions, and how to navigate through them. Familiarity can bring comfort, and comfort can enhance performance.

2. Craft Your Environment In a classroom, the environment is designed for focus. Recreate that at home. Find a quiet, well-lit space. Tell others you need to concentrate. Maybe even dress as you would for a regular test—it can put you in the right mindset.

3. All the World's a Clock Use a physical timer or a clock to keep track of time. Relying solely on the on-screen timer can increase stress levels. Having another point of reference can ease your mind and help with time management.

4. Read Aloud but Quietly Reading questions aloud can help your comprehension, just as it often does when you're studying. Just remember to keep it low if you're not alone. Articulating the questions and options can engage more of your senses, improving your understanding.

5. Rough It Out Have scrap paper and a pencil at the ready. Jot down your thoughts, make quick calculations, or outline your answer for essay questions. Just because the test is online doesn't mean you can't go analog with your thought process.

6. Flag and Move On Most online test platforms allow you to flag questions for review. If something's got you stumped, flag it and move on. Return to it later with fresh eyes and a hopefully more relaxed state of mind.

7. Breathe, Really It sounds cliché, but taking deep, intentional breaths can calm your nervous system. Before you click "start," close your eyes and take three to five deep breaths. Let each exhale be a release of tension and each inhale a boost of confidence.

8. Post-Test Reflection After the test, make note of what went well and what didn't. Did you need more time on a certain section? Did the environment work for you? Use these reflections to improve for next time.

9. Seek Feedback Your performance shouldn't be a mystery until grades are published. Seek out any available feedback, whether it's automatic results or comments from your instructor. It's all part of the learning process.

And lastly, don't underestimate yourself. A computer may be tallying your score, but it's your human ingenuity, adaptability, and yes, even your intuition, that will truly make the grade. Online tests are merely a format; they don't define you or your intelligence. Show that computer what's going on upstairs; you might just surprise yourself.

Hope this helps and looking forward to hearing others' feedback!

Thank you,

Benjamin M.