How to Ace an Exam Without Studying the Night Before

 We all have pulled an all-nighter preparing for a test the next day at some time in our lives. Whether we forgot about the exam, or we procrastinated on studying until the last minute, we all have experienced the horror of having to cram study materials the night before a test. If you worry about forgetting to study for a proctored exam, worry not! Here are some study techniques to help you ace an exam without having to study the night before. 

• Handwrite your notes 

Because most individuals write considerably slower than they type, handwriting your notes may appear to be too much of a hassle. However, according to popular research, people who jot down their notes by hand are better at retaining their notes than those who type. When you take notes on a laptop or tablet, you are more inclined to just type down what you hear or see instead of processing it. Because writing takes more time, people prefer to summarize and just write down essential aspects of the lecture. For that reason, you are unconsciously comprehending the content as you write by summarizing. 

• Review your materials after class 

After class, set aside some time to check your notes and teaching materials. If handwriting your notes in class does not appeal to you, this could be a good opportunity to move your notes from your laptop or tablet to a notebook. Rewrite and reread your notes for 30 minutes to an hour, and be sure to ask a classmate or your instructor any questions you may have. It has been proven that studying a small number of things in a short amount of time is impractical since your brain cannot process too much information at once. It is also possible that you will forget things you studied throughout the exam as a result of this. Your brain can absorb information more efficiently if you study your notes on a regular basis. 

• Practice makes perfect  

It is critical to keep practicing if you are studying for an exam that demands practical knowledge. Simply remembering formulas and codes would not be enough for a math or programming exam. When compared to memorizing, repetitive practice will help you understand the information far better. Like the previous tip, make sure you practice and solve a few practice questions from class. It is also a good idea to look for practice questions online because you never know similar questions could appear on your test. 

• Make a summary of notes to review right before the exam 

If you are still not sure if you are prepared for a test, make a document with important terms and summaries of the exam topic. Using various coloured texts also helps in the association of those colours with specific portions of the content, which could ultimately help you recollect information more easily during the exam. This trick is especially valuable when taking exams through proctoring services, where time is of the essence. Use this summary sheet to review right before a test to jog your memory of everything you have learned so far, and you should be good to go! 

With studying, it is essential that you understand instead of memorize, and these tips will help you achieve that goal. Remember to always study smarter, not harder. Now, you are ready to book an exam with ATS. Good luck! 

Written by Jaxine Kurniawan

Common Misconceptions About Proctored Exams

When you are studying for an upcoming exam, the last thing you want to worry about is where you are going to take the exam and if it is a secure and credible environment. You may not even be sure what a proctored exam is; the simplest way to put it is that proctored exams are administered in-person or remotely where you have a proctor there the whole time monitoring you from start to finish. Learn about why proctored exams are important in our other blog. When looking at the two options of doing an in-person exam at a testing centre or using an online service, there are misconceptions when it comes to both. We have cleared up some common misconceptions about proctored exams below.

Online Proctoring 

Misconception # 1: Less invasive 

While this may seem true as you are not in the same physical space as the exam supervisor, this is a misconception. To do an online proctoring exam you need to show the supervisor the room you are taking the exam in, allow access to your camera and microphone on your laptop, let them see your working space, and make sure nothing is on your person that could potentially lead to cheating. This ends up being way more invasive than expected. 

Misconception #2: More secure  

Whenever you are giving someone else access to your computer or laptop, you are creating a security risk for all your data attached to that IP address. No matter how secure a platform or exam technology is said to be, there is always a risk. It happened to 400,000 university students who had their data breached, and all their personal information became freely available on online hacker forums.    

Misconception #3: Most affordable option  

Yes, the cost of an online proctoring service is cheaper than the cost of an in-person exam. But that is just the cost of the exam. It does not account for any of the equipment you need including a reliable laptop or computer, a decent microphone and webcam, and a stable high-speed internet connection. Having to provide these extra necessities for an online proctoring exam can create an unintended barrier to access for many people.    

In-Person Proctoring 

Misconception #4: More noise and distractions 

If you have never done a proctored exam at a professional testing centre, your image of what it is like is probably similar to exams you have done at primary or secondary school—a loud open space with lots of people talking and desks being moved. This is a misconception. At Ashton Testing Services, we have a limited number of seats, and every candidate has access to a large partitioned desk and noise-cancelling headphones to ensure comfort and ease for your exam. 

  

Misconception #5: Doubled anxiety 

This misconception comes from the idea that you have a stressful exam that is anxiety-inducing, plus you are completing it in an unfamiliar environment causing double the anxiety. Fortunately, this has shown to be false because when you go to an in-person proctored exam, the staff are there to take care of everything such as sanitization, exam set up and dealing with any technical concerns/issues. This allows you to be able to solely focus on acing your exam. Plus, with the friendly and efficient staff at ATS, you will be relaxed as soon you enter the reception area. Before your exam, be sure to learn some tips on how to reframe your academic stress to ease some of your anxiety.   

Misconception #6: No accommodations 

There is a thought that testing centres want to fit as many bodies as possible into a room and provide no additional accommodations for anyone who needs it. This is false. Here at ATS, we accommodate students with special needs and provide them with a private room that is equipped with a height-adjustable desk. Our centres are also easily accessible and conveniently located with ample street parking and two public parking facilities nearby, as well as easily accessible via public transit.   

Next Steps 

If you have any concerns or questions about specific accommodations we can provide, do not hesitate to email us at testcentre@ashtontesting.ca. Our staff is looking forward to helping you with all your exam needs and providing you with the best proctoring services in BC. Best of luck in your upcoming exam! 

Written by: Lindsay McKay