Take-Home Exams

How to Succeed at Take-Home Exams

Not all exams take place in a classroom. Sometimes professors trade closed books and short time frames, for open books and longer assignment-style exams. However, just because you have your notes or more time, does not mean these exams will be easy. On the contrary, take-home exams often have more difficult questions and higher expectations than regular exams. Preparing for a take-home exam, therefore, will look a little different.

Common Types of Take-Home Exams

There are a few different types of take-home exams you may encounter.

The In-Class Substitute

  • Similar format to an in-class exam with a precise start and end time
  • May be three hours, but often shortened, as you have access to your notes
  • How to Prepare:
    • Make sure you log in on time and have reliable internet
    • Prepare by memorizing key information and making up sample questions
    • If open book, “study” by creating methods to find important information quickly (sticky notes for important pages, annotations in the margins of your notes, etc.)

The Multi-day “Assignment” Exam

  • Appears more like an additional assignment with a due date, rather than a traditional exam.
  • May last a day, or even a week.
  • Characterized by essay(s) and/or a large number of problems to solve.
  • May require research beyond your textbooks and lecture notes.
  • Professors expect higher quality answers here, so make sure you outline before you start writing and revise your work after. 

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General Studying Tips for Take-Home Exams

Although many take-homes are open book, you will still need to study for them if you want to do well. Consider these study dos and don’ts as you prepare:

Do:

  • Memorize key course info (vocab, dates, formulas, etc.) for easier recall during your exam.
  • Study by preparing sample outlines, questions, answers, translations, etc.
  • Earmark important charts or passages in your textbooks to find them quickly.
  • Look for connections between course topics.
  • Confirm in advance your exam time frame, permitted resources, format, etc.

Don’t:

  • Try to relearn course content on the fly. You won’t have time to look up everything mid-exam.
  • Only study by skimming your notes.
  • Say, “I know this stuff. And if I forget I will hunt for it during the exam.”
  • Study topics independently from one another.
  • Wait until the last minute to look up your exam instructions.

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Preparing for Different Question Types

How you prepare for a take-home exam may differ depending on the types of questions your professor will include. Consider the following as you prepare for different question types:

  • Multiple Choice: Memorize key definitions, dates, etc. Make up practice questions for significant chapters and lecture topics. 
  • Short Answer: As practice, write 5ish-sentence descriptions of key people, events, rules, details, etc. related to the course.
  • Essay Questions: Make up potential essay questions (preferably dealing with 2 or more course topics). Prepare sample, adaptable essay outlines that you can build off when writing your exam.
  • Translation: Continue to memorize vocabulary. Find new (or redo) sample translations from textbooks, Scripture, or online. 

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Making a Study Schedule

Whether your exam season consists of multiple take-homes or just one – and whether that exam is in a scheduled 3-hour block or takes place over multiple days – you're going to want to make a study schedule. This will help you budget time for studying, for writing longer take-home exams, for other life commitments, and even for de-stressing! Here is an example you may wish to follow:

a sample table of a study schedule it is colour-coded according to classes, work schedule, study times, meal times, exam times, and relaxation times.

Just Remember...

  • Your schedule has to fit your life and your commitments.
  • Make sure you take breaks where you don’t look at a screen!
  • Find the balance that works for you, then run with it. 

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