Studying Online;Succeeding through Distance Learning at University

182 Studying online 
QUICK TIP: Check with your lecturers in advance if you will 
need to take a proctored exam.That way, you can ensure you 
are prepared. 
If you are asked to take a proctored exam, there are some things 
you should do beforehand. First, back up your computer. Tere 
should not be any problems with the software used, but it is better 
to be safe rather than sorry. Second, check your system has the 
minimum requirements to allow the proctoring system to work. 
You might need extra memory, for example, or you might need 
a USB adaptor. Your university will let you know the specifc re-
quirements. However, make sure you sort out what is necessary in 
advance of the exam. You do not want any added stress. You will 
also want to ensure that the room where you take the exam does 
not have anything visible you would not wish anyone else to see. 
Sometimes students have potentially embarrassing items, such as 
wall posters, which you would not want to be visible to anyone 
checking the images or watching you via the webcam. In online 
classes, students will often use the “Blur background” feature of 
programs like Zoom or Microsoft Teams to avoid any embarrass-
ing items being seen on screen. However, in online proctored ex-
ams, blurring is not allowed, and hence you may wish to remove 
those embarrassing objects from view. 
Practical steps for online exams 
Whether your exam is timed or proctored, you need to be ready 
in advance. You may not be allowed your mobile phone, for ex-
ample. However, many students will use their smartphones as 
their alarm clocks. Given that the exam is timed, you will need 
a visible clock nearby. In traditional exam halls, there are usual-
ly several clocks. Tey are there so you can check your timings 
for completing each question. You still need to be aware of the 
timings for your answers in online exams. However, unless you 

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