Online Test Taking Strategies
Tags
Skills
Online Test Taking Strategies
All students who will be taking high stakes online tests, particularly if they have weaker attention, motor or spatial skills
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Objective: Online tests can place a heavier load on attention, as well as visual and motor skills, than paper-based tests. Prepare your students with strategies to optimize their comfort and performance in the online format. -
Give opportunities for students to become comfortable with the mechanics of the computer (mouse, track pad, keyboard) if it is not already part of your curriculum. Online tests involve keyboarding, clicking buttons, making choices from drop-down menus, drag-and-drop function, etc.
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Students are prone to point and click without carefully considering their answers in an online test format. Teach them to pause and carefully consider the question, all the answer choices, and then double-check they have selected their intended response BEFORE submitting the answer.
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If possible, enlarge the screen font and contrast so each student finds the most comfortable settings. If this is not possible, help students discover the best distance and height of their eyes from the screen so they can work most efficiently. These are different for everyone, so you might need to provide individual guidance.
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Provide on-screen reading practice so students experience reading and analyzing a long passage. Many students reflexively skim when they read on-screen, in contrast to reading more deliberately on paper. Reinforce the importance of close and deliberate reading for the test. Two options that will naturally encourage close reading are mouthing the text or problems or using built-in annotation tools. Also encourage students to take notes on paper if they need help remembering key details.
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Provide on-screen math practice that includes both figures and multi-step math problems. Have students use scrap paper just as they would for a paper-based test. If they avoid scrap paper, they may over-rely on mental math and make errors.
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Choose the best scrap paper option. Real paper is generally more effective than online scratch pads. Graph paper can be the best option because students can use the lines to accurately re-draw diagrams or figures and align numbers and decimal points. If students will use the inline scratch pad, have them practice using all the functionality.
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Check students' online answers against the scrap paper when they finish. Provide strategies for students who struggle to accurately re-write the problem or transfer their answers. Encourage students to silently mouth numbers over and over while transferring.
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Have students use their finger or the eraser tip of a pencil to track their place on the screen. This can help students' eyes focus during reading comprehension passages, identify numbers on graph and chart problems, etc.
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If it is not a timed test, remind students to take the time they need. Encourage them to slow down or take breaks to ensure they work more deliberately. Students might instinctively work more quickly on screens than they would on paper-based tests. Help them become more aware of their pacing so they recognize if they are working too quickly.