Best Time Management Techniques for Timed Online Exams

Why Online Exams Break Your Timing

There are pacing issues that can be difficult to spot with in-person tests that timed online exams can cause:

• Lack of a room clock: May lose the sense of time.
• Scrolling: There is additional navigation needed for long passages.
• Limited backtracking: There is only a limited amount of backtracking allowed.
• Browser and loading problems: These can take minutes.
• Countdown pressure – can make you feel more anxious due to having a visible timer.

The information can distinguish timed online exams from written exams. Good online exam pacing involves pacing of answers and the platform.

If you don’t know the format, the most common reasons students aren’t successful with online exams this guide on how online proctored exams work at Canadian universities may be able to help you pinpoint issues before the test.

Build Your Time Budget Before You Start

The basic framework of time management for online examsis one that you can easily follow for budgetting:

1. Add up the total amount of time the students will need for the examination, and allow for approximately 10% of that time to be used for review or technical issues.
2. Subtract the time for the answers and divide by the number of questions.
3. Go to a convenient number.

These examples illustrate the calculation, but are not a comprehensive target. If questions have different marks allocate by marks. A ten-mark question should be answered about five times as long as a 2-mark question.

One of the easiest of exam time management techniques is to write the budget down before you start. It can also help you understand the difference between an online quiz and an online exam to better determine what your test will entail.

The Three-Pass Method

The three-pass method is one of the most useful exam time management techniques which can be used during exams. Do not use it when able to navigate your platform.

Pass 1 — Harvest Know the answers to the questions you know right away and mark the questions that you don’t know. Try and work about half the time in this position.

Pass 2 — Work Go back to the marked questions – first the ones you can do reasonably. Allow time for each to be completed.

Pass 3 — Salvage Take the remainder of the time for challenging questions and when needed, review. Cross out any incorrect answer choices and answer all questions (unless incorrect answers are deducted from marks).

This is suitable if they have timed online exams at the end of an online lesson allow students to go back. If you have answers to turn in locked, then budget them by the question. Time Management in Exam helps better when you know how to manage time during an exam, because time goes too quickly.

Checkpoint Timing: How to Know You’re On Pace

After each question it can become distractive to check the clock. Rather, set up checkpoints when 1/4 (25%), 1/2 (50%) and 3/4 (75%) of time has elapsed.

For each point, compare elapsed time to how many questions have been answered. Don’t hurry through all the answers if you’re lagging. Go forward and pick up the lowest marks first. Don’t slow down if you are ahead, but save the time to review the questions when you get finished.

This results in better online exam pacing as each checkpoint is more of a decision point and less of a panic point. It will also help you with time management for online exams more effectively, by letting you know how to switch from one strategy to another.

When to Abandon a Question

Establish an “abandon” rule prior to exam. If you have taken about twice the time that you estimated on a question and don’t see any improvement, mark the question and skip it.

Time has passed and the minutes are past. The question is not, whether the next two minutes of the text will earn more points here or there, but rather what will be the best use of time.

It’s easy to dread leaving a tricky question, so pick this rule before you begin the test. Write a provisional answer prior to moving, if possible – if you cannot return, record a provisional answer.

This can prevent running out of time on exams, and can give you a realistic solution as to how to manage time during an exam.

Adjusting Your Pace by Question Type

There are different types of questions and effective exam time management techniques should take these into consideration.

Multiple choice: If you can’t chip down on the choices within the budget, then mark it and move on.

Reading passages: Preview the questions then read the text purposefully.

Calculations: Arrange the problem before performing the calculation, so that you don’t have to do it over again.

Short answer: State the answer and give supporting evidence.

Essay or long response: Plan this type of response for approximately 10% of the time. Don’t let the lengthy rewrites happen if you can give them a short outline.

It is important to make these decisions when taking timed online examsbecause the time taken to type, scroll and navigate adds up.

Time Traps Specific to Online Exams

Some helpful online exam tips include checking if you can backtrack, knowing how to submit the exam or having to do identity or room checks before the timer begins.

Look to see if the platform will save written answers. Do not assume that an external timer, second device or other aid is allowed, adhere to the rules of the exam. This is why working on your time management for online exams before is preferrable.

When multiple exams are taking place online in the same week, a helpful guide on how to prepare for several online exams in one week can come in handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I stop running out of time on online exams?

When figuring out time management for online exams, set a question budget, incorporate checkpoints and proceed if a question goes over budget.

1. Should I answer questions in order?

Not always. If it’s ok to use navigation, do easy questions first and finish with more challenging.

1. Is it better to guess or leave a question blank?

Read and adhere to the marking rules. When there’s no penalty for incorrect guesses, it’s generally better to err on the side of guessing.

1. How much time should I leave for review?

Generally, an answer of around 10% is good to start with, depending on the platform and the nature of the question. These online exam tips on the web can help not squander the last moments.

Conclusion + CTA

Before the exam, determine your budget and checkpoints as well as the rule you will use to determine when to give up. Use the clock as a guide, not a threat!