Online learning makes it very easy to lose track of time. Without the physical routine of going to class, due dates can slip out of your mind before you even realize it. And while it may not be the end of the world if you miss a single discussion board post, exams are something you definitely want to remember. Here are my tips for making sure that you don’t miss your exam—they may seem extra, but better safe than sorry!
Check the exam schedule
Did you know that many classes are still using the exam schedule this year? I don’t know why I assumed that wouldn’t be the case, but I’m very lucky that my friend pointed it out to me. Now is a great time to check it out if you haven’t already.
Verify details
On the exam schedule, it will either say that your exam is synchronous, or in a “fixed range.” But what does that really mean? It’s always smart to consult your syllabus and see what your professor has outlined. After all, your exam could be open book, closed book, timed, unlimited, on-camera, or off-camera. If you have any doubts, get in touch with your prof or a TA. The last thing you want is to get a 0 on your exam because you were too embarrassed to ask.
Reminders are your friend
Once you have your dates, times, and any extra information, you should make sure that you don’t forget it. I personally am a worrywart, so I set reminders in several programs for important events. Some options are your computer’s calendar, your Outlook calendar, and/or a phone app. If you’re prone to ignoring notifications (been there), enable the options that require you to interact with the reminder before you can go back to what you were doing.
Set your alarms
You can create as many reminders as you want, but if you’re not looking directly at your devices, you can still miss them. That’s why I also like to set alarms. This way, if I’m cooking and my phone is in the living room, I will still hear the notification. You may also want to set multiple alarms in the morning to ensure that you don’t oversleep and throw off your day.
Tell your housemates about it
It’s a good idea to tell your housemates when you have an exam coming up. For one, it will remind them to try and be quiet while you’re working. They’ll also probably forget and then ask you to remind them when it is, which will cement the date and time in your mind. Note: this tip will only work if you don’t live alone.
Make a pact to text with a classmate
If you’re STILL worried about forgetting your exam, connect with a friend in your class and ask to text each other before the exam time starts. It’s a way for you to get help and help someone else at the same time!