Six Vital Things to Avoid While Giving Your Online Exams

Online exams have become the poster boy of modern testing capabilities- and rightfully so, post the COVID-19 pandemic. It existed before, but only got famous after that period. Now, with there being many online exam helper services available, these have become notorious for rampant online academic cheating. It is so because students don’t know the things they must avoid doing while taking their online exams. We’ll get to that later; let’s first take a look at what it’s like giving them in the first place.

What is it like taking an Online Exam?

Online exams are also known as e-exams or digital exams. These are assessments conducted remotely via the internet, using a device with an appropriate internet connection. As students all over the world, and experts of websites like Assignment Desk might agree, these make exams highly convenient and accessible.

Not only that, they can be administered from any location, and they can incorporate various formats and features, including proctoring to ensure exam integrity.

Let's take a look at some key aspects of online exams, one by one.

Highly Accessible

Online exams can be made more accessible to students with disabilities through features like screen readers and adjustable font sizes. Not only that, one can give these exams from any place, as per one's convenience, as long as one has a stable internet connection and a proper laptop or computer.

Minimised Distractions

The ability to take your exams from any place in the world opens up a whole avenue of possibilities, especially regarding distractions. How? Well, according to the top experts of assignment writing service in the UK, you can swiftly minimise distractions by choosing a place that has none!

Automated Grading Systems

With online exams comes the automated grading systems. What this means for any student who is curious is that as soon as you give your exams, the system automatically checks and grades your answers. This allows you to quickly know where you lack the proper study, and how to improve upon it.

Flexible Timing

Perhaps one of the biggest perks of online exams is the flexibility they offer in terms of timing. You can take the test at any time when it suits you, early morning, or late at night. Of course, you’d have to adhere to the window of opportunity they’d offer you, but it still is a massive upgrade from the strict timings of the traditional approach.

Environmentally Friendly

Online exams are way better for the environment. How? They require fewer resources and create less carbon footprint. It’s a small change, but in the grand scheme of things, every little bit helps, especially when you consider the number of exams held worldwide every year.

These were some aspects and features that are involved in the usual online exam giving experience for the average student. With that said, there are obviously a lot of things that usually get ignored that one must absolutely avoid. What are they? Read the following section to know.

What You Must Absolutely Avoid?

Let's be honest, exams can feel like a whole lot of pressure, and oftentimes, that pressure leads to some mistakes that could've been entirely avoided. What to do then? Well, reading about what to avoid would certainly help, especially in the case of online exams. Therefore, we've curated this list of six of the most common problems that students can easily avoid this online exam season.

Ignoring Technical Preparations

Perhaps the single most prevalent thing that is also avoidable by students is ignoring the technical side of things. It might be tempting at first to think that everything will go smoothly just because you have a laptop and an internet connection, but that’s not always the case. Not only do online exams require specific software or platforms, but they also require certain settings. You wouldn’t want to be the one whose browser crashes right in the middle of an exam session. It is easily avoidable by constantly checking the system requirements well before time.

Skipping the Instructions

It’s easy to skip over instructions when you're eager to start the exam, especially when you think you already know what you’re doing. But this is a mistake you don’t want to make. Exam instructions often include crucial details, such as time limits, how to navigate between sections, rules regarding open-book exams, and even how answers need to be submitted. Pay attention to these, and ensure that you do NOT hurt your score and feel prepared and confident throughout your exam.

Failing to Manage Time

It is evident that time management is one of the most vital skills anyone could’ve, especially in the online setting. If you fail to manage your time correctly, you might find yourself rushing through questions at the end, or even worse, leave the most vital ones unfinished. Additionally, you can avoid it by breaking your exam into sections and allocating time for each. Keep an eye on the timer, but don’t obsess over it.

Not Following Academic Integrity

One of the most essential rules of any exam, either online or offline, is to maintain academic integrity. Online exams, although not immune to cheating, it is something you must avoid with sincere devotion. Cheating violates your institution’s protocol, but it also damages your academic integrity/reputation. Online proctoring is as stringent as ever, and the chances of getting caught are higher than ever.

Neglecting to Test the Exam Environment

Online exams typically take place in the comfort of your own home or any other location of your choosing. While advantageous, it also means that you’re the one responsible for setting up your own distraction-free environment. Neglecting to set up a suitable space can ultimately result in unnecessary interruptions, which break your focus and hurt your performance. Try to find a quiet, comfortable spot where you won’t get disturbed, before the exam.

Failing to Communicate

In the world of online learning, communication is key. If you run into a technical issue or have any questions about the exam (e.g., unclear instructions or errors), don’t hesitate to reach out to the exam invigilator, instructor, or tech support. Many online platforms also have chat features or helplines in case something goes wrong. Not communicating your concerns leaves you in a worse situation than if you ask for clarification right away.

Final Thoughts

While online exams have become exponentially popular and an incredible way to gauge student acumen, they require thoughtful prep, discipline and focus. Avoid the mistakes specified in the text above, like ignoring the proper technical setups, skipping the instructions, and managing time poorly. Or, breaking your academic integrity, and neglecting to setting up the exam environment, and failing to communicate. You can ensure that you are a 100% prepared to truly perform your best. Either with or without an Online Exam Helper.