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To help you prepare for writing exams on campus, we have some tips for before, during and after your exam.
Before the Exam
Review our Final Exam Accommodations FAQ page for information about requesting exam accommodations, confirming exam accommodations, and ensuring the process is as smooth as possible.
More questions about Ventus and exam accommodations? Check out the FAQs on the Ventus Help website!
Engage in Active Study Strategies
Use active rather than passive study strategies when preparing for an exam. This can include answering practice questions, concept mapping, flash cards, and study groups. Active study strategies help with information recognition and recall.
Review Exam Details
Make sure you know what types of questions are on the exam, and tailor your studying to them. For example, when studying for multiple choice exams, you may want to use cue cards on a website like Quizlet.
Check the Location and Time of Your Exam
Try to familiarize yourself with the location of your exam so you know where to go on the day of the exam. Use the Carleton’s interactive campus map to plan out your route.
If you are writing your accommodated exams with the McIntyre Examination Centre (MEC), please check your Ventus Student Portal for this information, which will be displayed under the “Exams” tab or the “Upcoming exams with academic accommodations” section of the dashboard.
Be Metacognitive
Check in with yourself and assess your strategies. Are you understanding the materials the best you can? What would make you understand more clearly?
Make sure you are in a relatively calm and positive mindset. It is normal to be nervous, but you don’t want to start your exam feeling panicked. Take a few deep breaths, remind yourself of your preparation, and take perspective.
During the Exam
Use the BRAVE Acronym
BREATHE deeply and slowly during the exam. Try to focus on yourself rather than others.
RELAX your muscle one at a time if you begin to feel tense.
Maintain a positive ATTITUDE during the exam. Be your own cheerleader!
VISUALIZE a relaxing or favourite place if you are feeling anxious.
Understand that this is temporary, and the END is in sight!
Review the Exam Instructions and Skim the Exam
Note the types of questions and scoring on the exam.
Identify questions you feel confident about. Answer those questions first.
Estimate time needed for each section or page.
Use Techniques Associated with the Question Type
Multiple Choice: Identify the topic of the question, understand what it is asking, pay attention to language, and narrow your options.
Short/Long Answer: Read the question, identify keywords, and plan your response.
Problem-solving: Read the question thoroughly, highlight the most relevant information, and identify the steps or formulas you need to use. Proofread your answer step by step to minimize errors.
After the Exam
Congratulations! You finished your exam. Now what?
If possible, schedule a meeting with your professor or TA to review your exam after grades have been released.
- Use this as an opportunity to determine gaps in your knowledge.
- Try to identify when the exam materials came from. Adjust your study strategies for next time.
- Determine ways to improve your performance on the next exam.