As the semester is getting close to its end, midterm season has ended and, more importantly, it will soon be time for final exams. As a fourth-year student that has experienced both in-person and online exams, I thought I would share some pro tips about exams with a focus on in-person exams!
Preparing for Exams
Exam Schedules and Locations
If you’re starting to mentally prepare yourself for the upcoming exam season, there are some things that you need to know to make sure that you are all set and ready to go for December! The first being where the exam schedule is published. Once the dates and locations of exams are released by UBC in mid-October you will be able to find your exam schedule within the SSC; it will be the first section under the ‘Exam’ label of the top bar.
Next, you should check to make sure that you don’t have more than three exams within a 24 hour period. If you do, you can apply for exam hardship to get your schedule shifted around- to make it less stressful for you! Once you have your exam schedule sorted out, start looking at your study schedule, but the most important thing to remember about your schedule is that it is in military time, so either do the math or check out a time conversion chart like this one.
Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash
The next thing to do is to check where your exam is going to occur. If you have a small class it might be taking place in your usual classroom, but if you are in a section that is part of a bigger class you might be moved into a bigger lecture hall or gymnasium to accommodate the number of students. Make sure that you check out where you will need to go, and if you haven’t been there before, make sure that you Google Maps your route at least the day before.
What to Bring
Make sure that you bring your student ID! If you are in a large classroom with multiple invigilators, they will likely go to each student and check that their student number matches that of their class list and that the ID matches the person.
A pro tip is to check with your professor if they have any particular rules for their exam room. Some professors only allow their students to bring pencils and pens in a clear ziplock bag. Other professors only allow completely clear water bottles, and so on. If you are ever unsure about a rule, clarify before your exam. It never hurts to double-check!
General Tips
There are also some unspoken rules within the exam room to ensure that you’re not a distraction to other people. Make sure that you don’t eat smelly or crunchy food if you feel the need to snack. Try not to shake your leg especially if you’re sitting at a long desk with other people there too. If you’re prone to leg shaking or nervous movement it might be a good idea to mention this to your prof and/or TA as they might be able to seat you somewhere where you could be more free with your movements without distracting others. Make sure that your phone is turned off and stored where you have been asked to put it! Some professors require phones to be kept at the front of the exam room. In this case, even if your phone is turned off but still in your pocket some profs may give you a zero and dismiss you. Make sure you don’t forget about the phone!
The Difference Between In-Person and Online Exams
The main difference between in-person and online exams is what you need to prepare in advance. Unlike an online exam where you could quickly find your student card and then sit down for your exam, during an in-person exam you need to have everything prepared beforehand. To begin with, you need to arrive outside the exam room at least ten minutes earlier than your exam begins (some professors say fifteen minutes earlier just to make sure that you don’t have to rush in case you are running late). Make sure you remember to bring your student card, especially during an in-person exam, as you will need to put it on the desk beside you so the invigilators can easily verify your ID.
Another important thing to remember: everything you have with you during an in-person exam will be immediately noticed and may not be allowed. For example, a non-clear water bottle with a lot of stickers or a brand wrapping around it. The same can apply for pencil cases, especially if they are not see-through. These things depend on the invigilator and the instructor, some will let you have these items if they are on the floor beside you and not on the desk. Check with your instructor before the exam if you have questions.
If you are interested in learning more about online exams, check out these blog posts:
- Online Exams
- Navigating Time Differences for Online Exams
- Tips for Your First Online University Exam
Centre for Accessibility
The Centre for Accessibility is a useful resource where you can find out about support and accommodations available for you, whether you need general help with classes or whether you require a silent solo room to take your exams. All you need to get started is to register with the Centre, provide a note from your doctor, and request the accommodations you need. An important note about this process: you need to begin registration as early as possible in order to make sure that you have time to request an accommodation for upcoming quizzes, midterms, or final exams. You should also have a conversation with your doctor about what kind of accommodations might be best for you.
The general accommodations provided might include having extra time to take your exams and some consideration around assignment deadlines. In order to make sure that you have properly pre-scheduled accommodations for your midterms or final exams, go through the Centre for Accessibility exam booking page.
While exams are generally stressful and somewhat chaotic events, there are things that you can do in order to make sure that you feel prepared for them! Always ask your professors about their expectations and clarification on what the exam is going to be like; it never hurts to ask. Try creating a checklist of everything mentioned above or a list of what your professors direct you to remember for your exam. It is never negative to be over-prepared for an exam.
