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 Study
Guide: How to Prepare for a Proctored Exam
From the
beginning, one of the challenges facing
universities providing online courses and
programs has been how best to assess a
student’s progress. There have been
several solutions tested, including regional
testing centers, required campus visits and the
honor system. Some, like the Pace
University/NACTEL program, have opted to rely on
proctors – people who administer and
supervise important examinations in an effort to
verify that the person completing the test
followed all the necessary guidelines and is
actually the individual receiving credit for the
course. Preparing for a proctored exam is
in many ways just like preparing for any exam,
but there are some special considerations you
should take into account.
- Finding
a Proctor. Of course, the first
step – before any exams are even
scheduled – is to find a
proctor. Most schools will have
some very specific guidelines and
procedures to follow, so be sure you find
out what they are at the very beginning
of the semester so you have a proctor in
place when your first exam hits.
Who makes a good proctor?
Supervisors, corporate trainers or
instructors, principals of local schools,
librarians, clergy and law enforcement
officers, among others. Relatives
should never be considered to serve as a
proctor.
- Advance
Preparation. In most cases, it
will be your responsibility to
communicate with your proctor. That
means, you’ll need to establish the
relationship in the first place and
coordinate all necessary forms and
paperwork that might need to be provided
to the school for approval. Plus,
you’ll need to let your proctor know
in advance when exams are due, and work
with that person to set up a time and
place to take each test that is
convenient for both of you. To do
this, you’ll also need to know how
the test will be accessed. In
online courses, you’ll most likely
need a computer and Internet access, and
the proctor will access the test using
his or her password. In some cases,
however, a hard copy of the test might be
sent in advance to the proctor.
- General
Study Tips. The key really is
to begin studying several days in
advance, and to reserve the day or night
before the exam for review of notes and
materials. Start by reviewing
lectures and other notes. It helps
to not only read this material, but to
take notes as you review. If there
are concepts or problems that are
especially challenging, contact your
instructor or a tutor to help work
through them. Review also all
previous tests, quizzes and
assignments. This will help you
organize content, as well as give you a
sense of how questions might be
structured.
- The
Day of the Exam. Bring whatever
you need with you and more (just in
case). Some things to consider:
a.
Picture ID for proof of identification.
b.
Stamped and addressed envelope for the
proctor to send the completed exam to the
school.
c.
Pens, pencils, paper, erasers,
calculator, extra batteries – and
any materials you might need to complete
the exam.
d.
A watch, to keep track of your time.
e.
Any forms or paperwork that need to be
submitted with the test.
- After
the Test. Always keep a copy of
the completed exam just in case it does
not reach the instructor. Leave the
addressed and stamped envelope with the
proctor for mailing, and if possible,
have the completed exam faxed as
well. Be sure to include any
necessary paperwork that needs to
accompany the completed test in order to
be accepted.
Additional
Resources
The
Consortium of College Testing Centers will give
you a list of college testing centers within your
state if you can’t find someone to serve as
your proctor. http://testing.byu.edu/NCTA/Consortium/find.asp
Likewise, the
national College Testing Association provides a
list of college and university testing centers
that you can contact to determine if they can
serve as your proctor. http://www.geocities.com/nctatesting/tslinks/
Preparing For
and Taking Exams provides some good general tips,
as well as some specific advice for objective vs.
essay exams. http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lsc/Services/Takingexams.htm
Some
titles you can find online or at your local
bookstore:
- “Memory
Power for Exams” by William G.
Browning
- “Passing
Exams: A Guide for Maximum Success
and Minimum Stress” by Dawn Hamilton
- “The
Blue Book: A Student’s Guide
to Essay Exams” by Gregory S. Galica
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Guides.
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