Prepare for the Day

1. Practice

• If your course does not offer online practice tests, check your course textbooks to see if they contain links to online practice tests.
• You can also search for multiple choice, short answer, and matching quizzes in various disciplines on flashcard apps like Quizlet.
• Practice previous exams posted on the University of Toronto Libraries websites. While old exams do not include answers and cannot be completed online, they can be useful as study aids and offer opportunities to practice what you have learned. Please keep in mind that old exams are simply one of many study tools: exam questions and sometimes even course material can change from semester to semester.

Resources:

UTM Old Exams Repository

UTSC Old Exams Repository

St. George Old Exams Repository 

Arts & Science Student Union Past Test Library

Engineering Past Exams & Midterms (SKULE repository includes exams and syllabi)

Faculty of Law past exam database includes finals, but no midterms or syllabi.  Restricted to Law students and faculty members.

2. Get a good night’s sleep. If you studied in small increments over the last few weeks, you need to sleep instead of studying OR study just the last-minute things for a short amount of time and then sleep. You need sleep for alertness, concentration, energy levels, and performance.

3. Organize your space and tools ahead of time.

   - ONLINE: scrap paper, study notes (if open book), quiet space.
   - IN-PERSON: Pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, calculators, etc. You may want to put out items you need to to take with you, such as clothing and keys, so they are not forgotten.

4. Reflect and plan on who you will connect with before your test. Do you have a peer in the class that you have studied with? Will you speak about the test before it starts? Do you need to be alone prior? A pep talk by someone in your support circle? Consider who you will (and who you will not) connect with before the test begins to help you feel prepared. Limit discussion about concepts on the test. This may cause you to feel confused or intimidated by your peers.

5. In-person Exams

   - Arrive Early: Arriving early can alleviate a lot of stress. Plan for a short walk while waiting. Take deep breaths, and eat a light snack.

   - Double Check the Time & Location: Make sure you know the correct location of your testing room and the time for the exam well in advance. Confirm your arrangement in advance with AccessAbility Services if you are writing there.

   - Call the Exam Centre If You Are Running Late.

UTSC Accommodated Tests & Exams 

UTM Accessibility Services Tests & Exams

UTSG Accommodated Testing Services 

Considerations for Online Tests

Budgeting Time

• Review the format of your upcoming tests and exams. Be mindful of the time allotted for take-home exams. Some take-home exams may only be open for a few hours while others may be open for a few days.
• If your exam is only open for a few hours, prepare for this exam as you would for an in-person exam. Take some practice exams under the same time constraints and practice your recall of information.
• If your exam is open for a few days, treat this exam like a final essay. Try to do some preparation or research on potential topics you could write about before the exam is released. Take some time to do an outline before you start writing, and remember to edit after you finish your rough draft.

Prepare Your Space & Tools

• Have your summary sheets or course material accessible. For open-book exams, this can also serve as an easy reference sheet (confirm which aids or materials are allowed before the start of an online exam).
• Check your computer. Make sure you have all the necessary equipment and software to write the exam when the time comes.
  • Familiarize yourself with the online platform hosting the online exam and ensure that you have the correct link and login information prior to the start of the exam.
  • Review the technical aspects of the online testing platform: Can you move between questions and sections? Is there a timer or time limit for sections of the exam?
  • If you do end up experiencing technical issues during the exam, contact your instructor and TA as soon as possible with as much detail as you can provide (e.g. time of error, error messages, and screenshots).
• Check to see the specifications of the exam. Will you have access to the internet or other software?
• If you have questions or concerns about how your test and exam accommodations will be implemented for your take-home exam, connect with your Accessibility Advisor/Disability Consultant.