Tests and exams
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant changes to how exams and assessments work. For the latest information and FAQs go to COVID-19 coronavirus - information for the Massey University community.
Whatever format your exam takes, there are some simple things you can do that will help you succeed.
If you are uncertain about the assessment requirements for your course, please contact your course coordinator.
For more information about examinations, please visit the Examinations page and check your timetable.
The online and take home exam format may be unfamiliar to some students, however, please try not to worry about the change in format. With any exam (regardless of the format), the key to doing well is good preparation. Studying for a test or exam involves much more than just reading over your notes. In order to succeed, you need to organise your revision; review past exam papers and know what types of questions will be asked, and practise, practise, practise! This section describes the process of preparing for an exam or test, as well as some tips on what to do once you are in the exam room. The information below will help you prepare and you can contact us for further help.
Be prepared:
Regardless of whether you will be taking an exam online using special software or the assessment is a take home test or open book, open web test taken under timed conditions, you need to prepare. Before you begin studying for your exam or test find out the answers to the following questions:
- How long do you have to complete your exams or tests?
- How many marks are they worth?
- What sort of questions will you be asked?
Once you have answered those questions you can start to create a study timetable and organise your study resources (lecture notes etc.).
Your exam/test may be based on past exam papers; if it is, then try looking at previous exam scripts in the library to get a sense of the types of questions you will be asked and topics that will be covered.
When you create your study timetable, factor in breaks with family or whomever is in your “bubble” as well as time at work, time spent exercising, preparing meals, sleeping etc.
Find a place that will help you to study. It may not be possible to study in a library or a café or other places where you normally study. You may also have to contend with additional distractions in terms of family or flatmates. Spend time negotiating with people in your bubble to find the time and appropriate space to study. If you have a time constrained assessment (e.g., an exam), you should ask people in your bubble for quiet during this time. If you have a poor internet connection, then ask others to refrain from using the internet while you are taking the exam or test.
If your exam/test allows to use your course notes, study guide, the internet etc., you will be taking an open book, open web test. Open book and open web assessments require as much planning and study as a closed book assessment. This means you must study and be prepared. Having a lot of material might make you feel secure, but you can easily get lost and waste precious time. Therefore, you will still need to organise your resources so you can easily find the information you will need.
In this section
Related sections
For information on how to remember facts, theories, formulae, and other information, see the section on memory skills.
The section on note-taking has ideas on how to organise your notes so that exam study is easier and more effective.
Massey University's Examinations section has information about exam dates and times, exam procedures, and the availability of final results.