One part of taking college classes is sitting for and passing final exams. Final exams measure how much you retained from your classes and if you’re ready to move on to higher-level courses. In your online college degree with Hartwell, you may have end of term exams called “proctored exams” or “end of term exams.” They’re an important part of your education, so you want to make sure you understand how they work and what you need to do to pass them. Here’s everything you need to know about proctored exams!
What is a proctored exam?
A proctored exam is an online test overseen by someone other than yourself to make sure all rules are followed and to prevent cheating. Proctored exams may be taken at the end of each end of term in your college degree program and are also called end of term exams.
How do proctored exams work?
Proctored exams may be taken at the end of each term in your college degree program. These exams evaluate what you learned and retained from all your classes taken in a particular term.
Proctored exams are:
Overseen. Someone other than yourself makes sure all rules are followed.
Timed. Test takers have a set time limit to finish the exam. Once time is up, even if you have not finished your exam, you’re required to hand in the exam to your proctor.
Open book. Students can use their textbooks, course materials, and notes during the exam if they need them! However, you can’t use the internet or saved files to help with the exam.
Proctored exams are completed online, and questions are multiple choice. They’re also graded on a pass/fail basis, with a minimum score of 70 considered passing. You’re required to take and pass the exam before being able to move on to your next term.
How to choose a proctor for end of term exams?
You’re responsible for choosing a proctor for your end of term exams. Once you’re getting close to the end of the term in the courses that require proctored exams, you’ll need to submit the Proctor Nomination Form found in the course to have your chosen proctor approved before you can take your end of term exams. Acceptable proctors must meet a few requirements to be approved.
The proctor cannot be a relative of the student, and cannot be a student of the University. Some examples might include a college or university administrator or faculty member, a school superintendent or principal, a school or public librarian, a ministry director or a pastor.
A good proctor can be a friend, a coworker, a teacher, or even your local librarian.
Your nominated proctor must have access to the internet and a valid email address.
Proctors must be available to be in the room with you while you take your exam.
Once you’ve filled out the Proctor Nomination Form, you can submit it quickly and easily in the course. There’s no fee to do this and it’s the best way to make sure your form is accepted and reviewed as soon as possible.
How to take proctored exams?
Just like your course exams and quizzes, end of term exams are taken online. However, the difference is that you need to have an approved proctor with you while taking the end of term exam.
Once you’ve started your exam, you’ll be able to reference written notes, textbooks, and other printed materials. You are also allowed to use eBooks if your course has them, but the proctor must directly monitor all online use to make sure you’re only accessing your online Hartwell classes. Accessing other, non-approved internet resources can cause you to fail the exam.
Proctored exams are open book. You can reference written notes, textbooks, and other printed materials and you may also use eBooks if your online course includes them.
What happens if you fail a proctored exam?
To pass your exams, you need to earn at least a 70%. If you fail your exam on the first try, though, you’ll have an opportunity to retake the test. When you retake the exam, you’ll be expected to follow the same rules and regulations you did when you took it the first time.
If you fail your second attempt, you’ll be placed on academic review. This means that you may need to pass remedial classes or retake some classes in order to prove you’ve learned the information you need to move to the next term.
How to study for proctored exams?
Your end of term exams cover information from all of your classes. That’s a lot of information, so you want to make sure to take your time to study before scheduling and taking your end of term exam. When you’re preparing for the test, you want to:
Review your notes from the term. Taking good notes can help you remember what you learn!
Review your notes from each class, paying special attention to sections you may not be as comfortable with.
Take note of what you struggled with in other exams. In your course exams, there may have been some questions or subjects you struggled with. When you take your regular exams, make note of what you had a harder time with so you can remember to spend extra time studying those sections when preparing for your end of term exam.
Review assigned textbook chapters. While you don’t necessarily need to reread every chapter in your textbooks or online study guides, it can be very helpful to review them as much as you can.
Make sure your notes are easy to read. Since you can reference your notes during the exam, make sure they’re easy to read and understand so you can access the information quickly while taking the test. If you need to, rewrite your notes! Besides making sure they’re easy to read, rewriting your notes can also help you remember the information.
Study at your own pace
Finals can seem scary, especially when you know you have to take the test on a specific date. With Hartwell, you can take your end of term exam during the last week of the term. That means you’ll have plenty of time to study, review your notes, and reread important material! It’s important to us that you actually learn the knowledge you’re studying versus meeting test deadlines and due dates. Before taking your end of term exams, make sure you take the time you need to study – whether that’s a few days or a couple of weeks!
