Aug 28, 2011 closed book examination is when you have to face exams without your books. Typically, most final assessments at monash have taken the form of closedbook exams. Time is of the essence, so the more prepared a student is the better they will do. I dont need to study much for my exam because the information will be right there for me to look up or. Many people considering an online education have questions as to how the tests work. It might seem that because youre working remotely, and cant be directly monitored by your instructor, that every test is opennotes and open book format.
Expect a closedbook policy, backed by an honor system. Tips for success on openbook exams law school success. A level 2 registered official cannot take a level 3 closed book exam. This section is focused on online essaystyle question open book examinations. While these are admittedly obvious and unspectacular practical tips, they are almost guaranteed to help you smash your closed book exam. You should memorize everything that was taught, the theories, concepts, formulas, etc. How to succeed on a closed book law school exam jd advising. Among educators, an excellent way to incite a debate is to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of any particular testing protocol. I had all closed book exams in law school until i was a 2l and i loved them. In an era of unprecedented change to the educational landscape, including curricula innovations, new.
In reality, the basic approach to both an open book law school exam and a closed book exams is quite similar. Most universities wont expect you to include all relevant details to achieve a high grade. Set up a quiet space where you can concentrate and work without interruptions. As requested from previous videos i have decided to share some of my memorization techniques for law school exams.
Open book exams, closed book exams, assessment, assurance of learning, education. Here are some tips for preparing for a law school exam, regardless of its format. In reality, some version of the second option is the best. Closed book exams can ask factual questions that demand students recall discrete pieces of information, but those bits can easily be looked up in an open book format. You need to study for openbook exams just as you would for any exam. Familiarize yourself with the book and relevant materials. This will limit your ability to search for the necessary information for every question. They test your ability to find and apply information. In classes with opennote exams, i felt less pressure in class to vigorously jot down notes, and i spent more time actively listening to the presenter. If you are doing a takehome exam, gather readings, notes and resources together beforehand and organise them neatly in your study area at home. All closed book exams that exceed leveleligibility will be rejected and the officials will be completed as a level 1. Openbook and takehome exams are a method of testing, usually in an unsupervised environment, that allows students to use textbooks, class notes, memory aids and other reference material to complete the exam. Please confirm carefully with your module coordinator that yours is an open book exam as closed book exams will also be held this summer.
But isnt it great that i can look things up if i forget something. The open book test will most likely be harder than if it were a closed book exam. It depends on the size of the exam, but generally you will need two to six weeks. Usually the purpose of a closed book exam is to asess what you have learned from the material. Open book exams challenge you to either create your own theories or help you visualize the concepts and help you. Even on the few tests that youll take that are openbook, theyll almost always be timed just as theyd be in a live setting. How to revise for different types of written exams. Label all your book flags and make it so you can see each one when the book is closed. I dont need to study much for my exam because the information will be right there for me to look up or all ill need to do in the exam is copy the answers out of the text. You need to synthesize course materials as you would for a closed book exam, creating an outline, roadmaps, or whatever form your synthesis typically takes.
The main premise for open book exams is that teachers can devise questions that require students to answer in more critical and analytical ways thus encouraging highorder thinking skills in their students. Mar 27, 2020 closedbook exams can ask factual questions that demand students recall discrete pieces of information, but those bits can easily be looked up in an openbook format. An exam that is closed book is an exam that is taken without additional resources or without the use of your textbook. Secure is examsofts term for closedbook law school exams. First, you should feel good about having closedbook exams. All the other exams i have had before were open book, so this will be my first time taking a closed book law exam. If i gave you an openbook exam, the answers would not be in the book. Apr 22, 20 throughout pharmacy school, i have taken closed book, opennote, cheat sheet, takehome, and even group exams. The most obvious reason is that even if the computer the student uses for the test is in lockdown mode, nothing else is. I am sure you are laughing after reading this, but i do believe they are good preparation for the biggest closedbook exam of them all the bar exam. So in a way, you want to study the material as if you were taking a closed book exam.
We recently wrote a post on how to succeed on open book law school exams. We have compiled a bunch of outlining tips here, but there are still a few things you want to keep in mind when outlining for a closed book exam. Exams shouldnt be a test on the students memory, but how we interpret texts. Tips and strategies on how to take an open book test. A total of 297 students enrolled in eight sections of introductory psychology and 99 students enrolled in four sections of statistics participated in this study. What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and non. However, in order to do well on a closed book law school exam, you must have the law memorized. Here are some tips for designing a good open book exam.
Study tips for closed book con law exam as the title says, does anyone have any study tips on how to best approach a closed book con law exam. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What are the benefits of an openbook exam over a closed. Here are some thoughts on getting ready for your closed book exams. Same day home exams tips and information inspera help. This is true for all types of law school exams, but especially true on open book exams because all of the students have all of the rules in front of them. The differences between openbook, cheat sheet, and closedbook exams were examined in two different types of psychology courses. So how should you prepare for that open book exam then. Firstly, ill just start by saying i dont get closed book exams, especially in a subject like english or classics, where the success of the candidate is dictated on.
A test or examination informally, exam or evaluation is an assessment intended to measure a testtakers knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics e. Luckily for you, dear reader, i took admin law over trimester 3 and can confidently pass on some hints and tips on how to prepare for a closed book exam. Wondering how to study for closedbook law school exams. For an indepth guide on how to answer law school exam questions, see this link. Nov 07, 20 well, let this be a warning to you, open book exams are definitely not easier than closed book exams. Agarwal, karpicke, kang, roediger, and mcdermott 2008 found that students performed better on open book tests, but their retention of this knowledge over the longterm was the same as that of the students who took closed.
How to succeed on an open book law school exam the unfortunate trap that many law students fall into is underpreparing for open book law school exams. How to succeed on a closed book law school exam jd. Ill study for the exam like i would for a closedbook exam. Closed book examination is when you have to face exams without your books. May 14, 2017 a closed book exam can make the dread in the bottom of your stomach flare up and induce panic, looking at you admin law.
How to prepare for a closed book exam top law schools. Same day home exams tips and information inspera help center. If i gave you an unlimited time exam, you would never finish. This may sound at first that all you will need to do is look up the answer the day of the testand thus a. Tips for creating open book exams center for innovative. You need to undertake the exact same preparation, you still need to prepare your exam script, and going through old exams is just as important.
Coping with open book exams on the lpc the student lawyer. Closedbook exam generally means that the only source of information you may rely on is your brain. Law school memorization tips closed book exams j wong. The key to open book exams is to set questions where students need to do things with the information they have at hand, rather than simply locating it in the text or notes during the exam and reproducing it. Openbook exams, closedbook exams, assessment, assurance of learning, education. You dont want your outline to be too long or verbose. Here is the truth about open book exams and how to prepare for, and write, them. We explained that the approach to both open and closed book exams are generally the same. As a result of using this method for at least five years, the majority of students will have developed a revision technique to cope with closedbook exams. Nonsecure is examsofts term for openbook law school exams. Phones, tablets, books, people, and other computers all provide access to sources that are normally not.
Law school exam tutor extraordinaire lee faller burgess of amicus tutoring. What do the terms openbook, closedbook, secure, and nonsecure exam mean. Your ability to recall concepts in the exam is super important. Closed book exams just like open book exams but without notes ill let everyone in on the big secret about closed book exams. It is important when working on outlines that you focus on the needtoknow information first. And if i gave you a takehome exam, you would forget where you live. Tips for studying for a closed book law school exam. Studying for law school exams study guides for law. This information should be read in conjunction with the preparation for online timelimited exams. I know, i am strange, but i thought it seemed more fair that everyone. Most people will probably be used to closedbook exams, since this is the style they have become accustomed to during alevel and undergraduate study. Exam types were counterbalanced across sections of the same course.
What my professors do is they make it so that if you have to look every single thing on the test up you. How to prepare for a closedbook exam the girls guide to law. Students often have wrong ideas about these exams, such as. To quote one of my undergrad professors on why he gave inclass closedbook exams. Agarwal, karpicke, kang, roediger, and mcdermott 2008 found that students performed better on openbook tests, but their retention of this knowledge over the longterm was the same as that of the students who took closed. Apr 08, 2020 no one wants to make a professor concerned about potential cheating on exams. As a result of using this method for at least five years, the majority of students will have developed a revision technique to cope with closed book exams. Unlike traditional closed book exams where students are required to rely solely on their recall of exam topics, open book. First, you should feel good about having closed book exams. Im in a probability and statistics course where all our tests are open book notes but no electronics. Open book exam questions usually require you to apply knowledge, and they may be essaystyle questions or involve problem solving or delivering solutions. Like most law students, i tend to panic when i heard the words closed book exam, but here are some tips for making the process easier timing.
Closed book exam generally tests your ability to write theories and problems which are readily available in some prescribed textbook. In open book exams, students are allowed to bring notes, texts, andor other resources into the exam room. Series 7 closed book exams 1012 flashcards quizlet. This means that you are only allowed to bring your writing materials and approved equipment, such as a calculator, into the exam with you. An open book exam is a test that allows you to bring the text or material you have been studying.
Difference between open and closed book examination compare. Difference between open and closed book examination. I wont need to memorize long formulas, but what else should i do differently compared to studying for traditional exams. There are 2 literature papers which include the content of. Preparing for openbook exams unsw current students. How to succeed on an open book law school exam jd advising, llc. A students guide to online success, fourth edition, ryan watkins and michael corry provide several recommended steps that students can take in order to succeed on their online exams. So, as you consider open book exams, work to move toward higher order thinking, as defined by blooms taxonomy. How to study for a closed book exam deakin law students. This may sound at first that all you will need to do is look up the answer the day of the test and thus a very easy type of test to take.
Preparation for timelimited open book exams university. You should expect that most of your online tests are a closedbook. A test may be administered verbally, on paper, on a computer, or in a predetermined area that requires a test taker to demonstrate or perform a set of skills. Here are some thoughts on getting ready for your closedbook exams. Also just because it is open book doesnt mean it will be easier. Spend an equal or greater amount of time preparing as you would for a normal test. Most people will probably be used to closed book exams, since this is the style they have become accustomed to during alevel and undergraduate study. Open book test taking tips tips and strategies on how to take an open book test. Apr 06, 2017 the introduction of closed book examinations, for gcse english literature, requires students to learn and memorise quotes for this exam. So, as you consider openbook exams, work to move toward higher order thinking, as defined by blooms taxonomy. If you read our last post on how to succeed in an open book law school exam. Unlike traditional closed book exams where students are required to rely solely on their recall of exam topics, open book exams allow students to consult reference materials notes, textbook, etc.