Mastering Your Midterms in Online Courses

Midterms—a word that continually strikes fear in the hearts of students, whether undergraduate or graduate, on campus or online. For many online students, midterms hit at hectic times. Between traveling for a conference, meeting tough deadlines at work, or helping kids study for their own exams, sometimes your midterm prep can take a bit of a backseat.

These tips from the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) eCampus can help you keep midterms in mind as you balance studying with a full schedule.

Look ahead at exam deadlines. A glimpse at deadlines for the entire semester can be daunting, but it’s the best way to keep major projects and exams on your radar screen. Add important dates to your calendar and set reminders for yourself if needed. Read the course syllabus to see what an exam or project will entail so you can anticipate the time you’ll need.

Schedule your proctor. Some courses require proctored exams, which require you to work with UNK to arrange for a proctor to administer the exam. Check your course syllabus to determine if your course exams require a proctor. Then follow instructions in your syllabus to schedule a proctor early so you don’t miss an exam deadline.

Designate time to study. Whether preparing for an exam, presentation, paper, or other midterm project, schedule certain times to practice or prepare. Focus on specific projects or tasks, and set smaller milestones to keep yourself on track for the big deadline. Consider studying from your local library or another quiet location where you can focus on your studies.

Prioritize the revision process. Many midterms come in the form of research papers. Some courses may require an initial draft for peer review, but some may not. Allow yourself enough time to edit or revise your paper before you need to submit it. If time permits, step away from the draft for a day and approach it with fresh perspective. Take peer review or instructor feedback into consideration to improve your work.

UNK eCampus offers resources for online student success, from test proctor resources to research paper writing tutorials and more. View the online student resources, and go forth to tackle those midterms.