If you have ever been taking an online exam, you know the experience can be extremely irregular. You are in the middle of studying, and out of nowhere, the exam fear starts; what if the internet crashes? How would I take my online class and exams? What about the timers that seem to be set to the milliseconds? And God knows if the webcam is working. Well! You are not alone if you have ever found yourself staring at the screen, just waiting for the disaster to strike. However, it really does not have to be this way! With these simple tips, you can take your online exams calmly and confidently. Ready to get started to learn how to overcome exam fear?

Understanding Online Exam Fear: What is Holding You Back?

Concern with online exams is a real thing. Moreover, the problem is caused by waiting for the problems that may occur during the exam. A student may fear that they will lose connection to the internet, the software may face unexpected problems, the computer may stop working, and so on. Hence, we can say that online exam fears are a complex mix of technical issues and performance fears.

• Technical issues: The first fear is for the internet to drop right during the beginning of the test. Moreover, the student will also be afraid that there may be issues with the software or that the PC can stop working.
• Time pressure: The countdown on the screen creates time pressure, which does not allow them to finish thinking about the question in depth. They are constantly in a hurry and are under stress.
• Isolation and lack of support: The absence of real-time support from teachers or invigilators might add to your stress. If something goes wrong or if you have a question no one can help you. The isolation further exacerbates feelings of fear and helplessness.
• Performance anxiety: The pressure to do well and meet the academic or personal requirements might be very hulking. The fear of having a mental block or receiving poor results makes a lot of people perform a lot worse than in any normal situation.
• Unfamiliar platforms: The fact that you neither know how to properly navigate the platform nor have the necessary trust to operate with it adds stress. If for instance, the fear of accidentally submitting an incomplete paper is something that you worry about, then you are left with exceeding your heart rate.

If you understand these fears, you can directly and easily address them. It will not only make your online exams manageable but less intimidating.

Strategy 1: The Power of Preparation and Time Management

Online exam fear can be conquered with preparation and effective time management. Here are several exam strategies to manage and optimize the preparation phase.

• Create a study schedule: Divide your syllabus into smaller chunks. Estimate how many days remain until the exam and assign different topics to each of them. This way, you will not feel that you must cram for the exam while having no time for preparation.
• Use time-blocking: To master time-blocking, you need to know how to combine resting and active work during the study. Divide each hour into two parts: 45 minutes of study and 10-15 minutes of rest.
• Practice with mock exams: Familiarize yourself with the format and timing of the exam. Take mock tests under similar conditions. It helps in understanding the type of questions and timing of the test.
• Set a time limit for each section: During the exam, allocate time for each section or question. Give priority to high-value tasks first i.e. questions carrying more weightage. Make sure you leave some time at the end of the test to review the answers.
• Stay organized: Taking an online exam does not require the same level of formality that in-person test-taking does. You should plan to take the test in a comfortable location that is free of distractions.

When you have all your resources in place and have made ample preparations, you can be assured of minimal surprises.

Also read: Enhancing STEM Education Through Online Learning: Opportunities and Challenges

Strategy 2: Tech-Savvy Confidence Boost

Feel more confident about having your online exam by becoming proficient with the technology you will be using:

• Get to know the exam platform: Some exam platforms post tutorial videos online, which you may find helpful. Have a look at the user guides or practice logging in so that you are not confused on the day of the exam.
• Double-check your tech setup: Make sure your computer, webcam and microphone are all working properly. Test and, if necessary, adjust your internet connection to make sure it is fast and reliable. Connecting to the router with a cable, as opposed to Wi-Fi, will provide more reliable results.
• Prepare for technical issues: Save the phone number or email of the technical support and test beforehand if it will be available. If you are allowed to, try, and install the software on a smartphone or a tablet, as those devices often experience fewer issues than computers.
• Perform a pre-exam tech check:  You do not have to take the whole exam, a mock exam, or a practice session for which you do not need much time will be enough. The main point here is to detect and rectify any potential issues with your exam environment or program.
• Create a backup plan: Ensure you have an alternative if anything goes wrong. If you know that you will be able to take the test either with another device or using another source of the internet, you can simply focus on enjoying your learning.

While this approach provides many advantages such as the saving of time and ease of access, it also means that students need to learn how to deal with potential technical problems which may arise.

Also read: How Online Learning is Making Education More Accessible?

Strategy 3: Develop a Winning Exam-Day Routine

A good and well-planned exam-day routine is what sets you up for success and holds off your anxiety and stress. Here are some exam strategies one needs to do before the official exam starts.

• Get a good night’s sleep: Your ability to concentrate is greatly dependent on your sleep quality, so without proper sleep, you have a greater chance of just deteriorating your long-term or short-term memory. Also, if you pull an all-nighter there is a good chance you will not have the strength or the motivation to finish the exam.
• Eat something healthy: Bananas, fatty fish, lean meat of any kind or boiled eggs, vegetables, water, and berries are the best sources of vitamins and carbs before the exam starts.
• Set up your exam space: Everything necessary should be set up before the start of the exam, distract yourself as little as possible.
• Practice relaxation techniques: Every day take a few minutes and concentrate on your body from head to toe, this technique is known as mindfulness, or practice deep breaths for two minutes to calm your nerves. Simple meditation or such activities can help you kick-start the exam with a free mind.
• Review exam instructions early: Before you start your exam, spend a few minutes reading all the instructions. Know what is the format of the exam, the time given to complete it and what special requirements it demands. This will help you keep things in mind early and reduce your anxiety.
• Have a pre-exam ritual: Do stretching, listen to a relaxing piece of music, or quickly go outside for a walk to clear your head. Such a ritual can serve as a signal to your brain that it is time to shift into operating mode and support the best performance.

 In this way, you will be able to manage your stress and make the exam experience more approachable and less overwhelming.

Strategy 4: Manage Your Time Like a Pro During the Exam

Do you want to perform better during the exam and manage your time wisely? Follow the exam strategies below:

• Study the instructions: Read all the instructions carefully. Also, pay attention to the number of points assigned to the task and, based on this, you can speculate how long it would be reasonable to spend time on it.
• Distribute the time: It is best to leave more time for difficult or high-scoring tasks, and not end easy ones for the end. Use an alarm clock or watch to control time.
• Use a strategy for unanswered questions: If you come up with a question that seems too hard, do not panic and move on with the other. You can get back to the question you skipped later if you still have enough time. Moreover, your exam question might go unanswered but your queries regarding online classes will never go unanswered when we are here to help. For instance, if your complicated biology class is making you wonder where can I pay someone to take my online biology class for me, we are the solution.
• Keep an eye on the clock: A sure way not to lose track of time is to watch it constantly. You can set up small hourly reminders or alarms just like they will during the exam every time you move to the next section or part of your papers.
• Leave time for review: Once the exam is coming to an end, leave the last minutes to review your answers. Check if you have made any mistakes or did not manage to answer a question, make the necessary changes and add the missing data.

If you follow this simple advice, you will manage your time during your exam and will stress less.

Strategy 5: Overcome the Fear of Failure

It is easy to be immobilized by fear of failure. So, if you are wondering how to overcome exam fear, here is the answer.

• Develop a growth mindset and believe that while performing a task, you either succeed or learn.
• The reason why a person is afraid of making mistakes is that they set overly ambitious goals they cannot achieve yet. Therefore, they should be more realistic.
• Finally, practice self-compassion because when you want to succeed so badly, you put too much pressure on yourself.
• You should realize that focusing on progress rather than perfection can help you succeed.

In addition to this, are you afraid of failing your algebra class? Do you also think, there would be opportunities if someone could help me take my online algebra class for me? If yes, then you know the answer to overcome this fear. Put your faith in us and let our subject matter experts take care of it.

Conclusion: You Have Got This!

In conclusion, all the exam strategies begin first in the mind as is often the case with any challenge. With these guiding stars in hand, you are now ready to tackle your exams. Control your focus, perfect your timing, and know how to use the technology. The rest are details which you can easily overcome. Put a smile on your face, gather up your books, turn to the first page and tackle that online exam with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How can I get ready for any technical issue in my online exam?

Answer: You can familiarize yourself with the test delivery platform and test your set-up. Additionally, check with your instructor or institution if there is a general tech support number you can use.

Question: What should I do if I run out of time while taking my exam?

Answer: First, quickly assess the questions you feel comfortable with and answer them if you can. Then, move through difficult questions without answering them. Finally, attempt to answer the unattended questions later.