How to do Well on Open Note, Online Exams

Introduction

While having an open note exam is amazing, there are still a few things you should be doing to prepare yourself. You shouldn’t just rely on your notes or books because it might take you a while to find the answer your looking for, therefore taking time away from your exam. Today I want to share with you some tips on how to prepare for these types of exams so you succeed to the fullest. Organize your notes. Either by chapter, subject, etc. this way you know what you should be focusing on studying or looking over more if there is a section you don’t understand as well.

Organize your notes

Organize your class notes either by chapter, subject, topic, etc. This way, you know what you should be focusing on studying or looking over more if there is a section you don’t understand as well. While it’s nice to have notes for your exam, you won’t have time to find everything. Organizing your notes will help you stay clam and it will make it easier.

Create a master document.

Creating a master document such as on a word doc, powerpoint, or on google docs can also help you with organization. This is so everything is in one place and it is easy to find. You don’t want to be clicking through or opening a ton of tabs, so having everything in one place will save you time and make it more effective. The less tabs you have open during your exam, the better off you will be.

Study before hand

You’re probably thinking to yourself – if I can use any notes I want, why should I need to study? Well, while it’s good to have your notes – you can’t rely on them for everything. It takes time to find the exact pieces of information for questions you need. By doing a little studying though, it can make the process much faster. It also tests your learning skill which are important.

Draw diagrams

If you know there are diagrams that are of importance, draw them out in your notebook or on a piece of paper so you have a physical copy and can read them better. Sometimes it is good to take notes on those diagrams of important things to remember. I am a visual learner, so being able to look at diagrams helps me figure out problems.

Do your professor or teachers study guides

They make these so you know what kinds of questions or concepts are going to be on the exam. So filling them out with as much detail as you can will give yourself and advantage. If your exam is part essay, part multiple choice – try to do the essay first. This is my personal opinion and you might have a different one which is completely okay, but it is much easier to rush through multiple choice than to type final paragraphs of an essay. This also depends on your strengths. If you know you’re better at multiple choice and can get them done faster, do the essay first so you don’t have to rush. And vice versa.

Take care of your physical health

Regardless of whether it’s an open note or closed note exam, it is still an exam which means you need to sleep. While studying is important, you should also prioritize your health. This means drinking water, eating right, and sleeping. While you may be mentally prepared for the exam, your physical state also matters when it comes to succeeding.

Wrap-Up

I for one, love open note, open book exams. However, they are not always as easy as you might think. It’s one thing to do poorly on an exam that you studied hard for that is closed book. But doing badly on an open note, open book exam another thing. Kind of like missing a goal in soccer when there’s no goalie, you feel? Regardless on how you do, just know that grades are not everything. One bad grade does not define you and it does not make or break your high school / college experience. You are going to do amazing on your exams and finals week. Just make sure that you are taking care of your mental health and are sleeping! Sending you love and luck!