Having multiple online exams in one week is common in college. For optimal preparation, rank each exam by grade importance and divide each day into small units for different subjects. Take practice tests rather than re-reading and get a head start on your exam tech before test day.
Having a clear plan helps manage workload. Keep reading for a step-by-step system for how to prepare for multiple online exams. We have shared a sample 7-day schedule and a tech checklist built for online tests.
Key Takeaways on Preparing for Multiple Online Exams
- Take time for the most important tests and the ones for which you feel least prepared.
- Re-read each subject at least every other day.
- Self-testing is more effective than re-reading notes for recall.
- Complete a comprehensive tech and proctoring check at least 1 day prior to each exam.
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep. Studying all night can affect your performance.
How to Prepare for Multiple Online Exams: A 6-Step System
Follow these steps in order:
Step 1: Map Every Exam Date, Window, and Format
Online exams are more complex than paper exams. For each one, record these details:
- Exam date and open/close window (Canvas calls these availability dates)
- The time limit and number of attempts will be given.
- Multiple Choice, Problem Solving, Essay, or Open Book.
- Honorlock, Proctorio, or Respondus LockDown Browser
- The time zone for the deadline
- Exams’ weight in your final grade
Note everything in one calendar, such as Google Calendar.
Step 2: Rank Your Exams by Weight, Readiness and Date
There is no need to spend equal amounts of time on all exams. Spend the most time on the important tests when you are least prepared. Use the exam date to break ties.
| Exam | Grade Weight | Your Readiness | Exam Day | Priority |
| Statistics | 30% | Low | Thursday | 1 |
| Biology | 25% | Medium | Wednesday | 2 |
| History | 10% | High | Friday | 3 |
Don’t dedicate the most time to the exam you are most scared of. Fear is related to how difficult an exam is, not its importance.
Step 3: Build a Study Schedule for Multiple Exams
A good study schedule for multiple exams assigns a subject to each time block. It does more than just state free time.
- Hold blocks for 45-90 minutes.
- Schedule the highest-priority exam during peak concentration time each day.
- Give a break of 10 minutes between blocks.
- Write the next task at the end of each block.
Read these Time Management Tips for Online Class for more tips on preserving study time.
Step 4: How to Study for Multiple Exams at Once Without Mixing Them Up
The answer to how to study for multiple exams at once is rotation. Distribute subjects throughout the day rather than one day per subject.
- Learn 2 to 3 subjects a day.
- Complete 1 block before switching. Frequent switching between subjects is distracting.
- Check on each subject at least once every other day. Research indicates that materials learned through spaced practice are retained better than if they had been crammed into memory.
- Avoid dropping courses to take one test. A 20-minute review beats none.
Step 5: Swap Re-Reading for Active Recall and Practice Tests
When you re-read, you build familiarity. In a 2013 review, Dunlosky and colleagues found that the most effective study strategies were practice testing and spaced practice.
Match your method to the exam format with these online exam preparation tips:
- Multiple choice: Apart from focusing on the right answer, also explain the reason why other options are wrong.
- Problem solving: Solve new problems without the help of worked examples.
- Essay: Answer typical questions in outline form in 10 minutes.
- Open-book: Arrange notes for quick reference. When taking timed online tests, it is hard to search around.
Complete one timed practice test on a computer that is similar to the actual test conditions for each subject.
How to Handle Different Exam Formats When Multiple Exams Fall in One Week
If two exams are scheduled back-to-back in one week, it calls for different ways of studying. Match preparation to the requirements of each format:
- Classify test requirements: Determine if the test was a problem-solving test, memorization test, or written argument test.
- Focus on hands-on activities: Calculation and writing formats take longer than recall formats. Allow extended study times for multiple repetitions.
- Develop format-specific supports: Compile formula sheets for quantitative tests and thesis outlines with supporting evidence for essay tests.
- Don’t treat it like ‘one size fits all’: Passive reading for an essay examination or flashcards for a maths exam are not appropriate.
- Use cognitive switching: Take 10-minute transitions between activities to refresh your brain before switching from one activity to another.
Step 6: Use the Day Before Each Exam for Review Only
Avoid studying new material the day before a test. Review your summary sheet and missed practice questions. Avoid studying for one hour prior to sleep.
Can You Make Me a 7-Day Study Plan for Multiple Online College Exams?
Yes. Here is a weekly study plan for online college exams you can adapt. It uses the three exams from Step 2, scheduled on Days 5, 6, and 7.
| Day | Main Block | Second Block | Short Review |
| 1 | Build your exam map | Short multiple-choice quiz (from previous LMS quizzes or study guides) | – |
| 2 | Statistics: weak topics | Biology: weak topics | History flashcards |
| 3 | Biology: timed practice test, then review | Statistics: practice problems | History flashcards |
| 4 | Biology: summary sheet and missed questions | Statistics: timed practice test | History outline |
| 5 | Biology exam | Statistics: fix mistakes | History: timed practice test |
| 6 | Statistics exam | History: summary sheet and missed questions | – |
| 7 | History exam | – | – |
How to Study for 3 Online Exams in One Week
Don’t distribute your hours evenly; distribute them by priority. 20 hours of study divided roughly 9/7/4 between high, medium, and low priority works more effectively than approximately 7 hours per priority. If two exams are on consecutive days, prepare for the latter in advance. If the schedule is too hectic, then you also pay someone to take my online exams.
I Have Four Online Exams Next Week and Haven’t Started Studying. Is It Still Possible to Prepare for All of Them?
Yes, it is possible if you reduce the scope. Don’t try to cover everything. Instead, focus on what earns the most points. These last minute exam preparation tips help:
- Start small. Identify and record all 4 tests and their dates (10 minutes).
- Get previous quizzes and study guides from your learning management system (LMS). They show what instructors test.
- Complete your studying on high-weight topics first. Skip minor details.
- Reduce each task, for example, to 10 practice questions instead of 30.
I Work Full-Time and Have Three Online Exams This Week. How Can I Fit in Enough Study Time?
The good news is that you can do so with short sessions and flexible exam windows. How to prepare for multiple online exams while working full time starts with planning around your real hours, not ideal ones.
- Set aside 30 to 45 minutes before work, during lunch, and after dinner.
- Ask your manager early if you need a shift change.
- Use Quizlet flashcards in the car or on a train.
- If an exam window is open for days, then take the exam on your day off.
What to Do When Your Study Plan Falls Behind
Almost all plans go awry at some stage. Correct the plan, don’t redraw it.
- Only move the next missed block, not the entire week.
- Minimize the task rather than eliminate.
- Cut low-value work (such as notes) before deciding not to do practice tests.
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
What to Do When Two Online Exams Have Overlapping Exam Windows?
If exam availability windows are concurrent, then strategic scheduling will not result in a bottleneck or technical stress:
- Determine if each exam has flexible window days or fixed window days.
- Reserve tight deadlines as the first priority and flexible ones later!
- Running two exams consecutively can cause mental fatigue and accentuate technical risks.
- Automated or live proctoring takes 10–15 minutes for ID verification and 360-degree room scans.
- Take 60-90 minutes between exams to rest your eyes and clear your workspace.
- If two mandatory, fixed-time exams conflict, email both professors right away to arrange an alternate testing time.
How to Prepare for Multiple Online Exams on the Same Day
Think of every exam as an individual test.
- Look only at the first exam the night before.
- Take time to eat something in between exams.
- Review the summary sheet for the last 20 minutes before the second exam.
- If both exams have an open window, do the important exam first, when you perform at your peak.
- Hire someone to take my online class for me while you prepare for the test.
Online Exam Time Management on Test Day
Good online exam time management starts in the first minute.
- Set a time limit per question by dividing the total time by the number of questions.
- Work out simple problems first. Flag hard ones if the platform allows it.
- See if you can return to the starting point. Some exams present one question at a time and close your responses.
- Set aside 5 minutes to review and submit. In many LMS quizzes, when time is up, the quiz automatically submits.
What Should I Check Before Taking Several Online Exams in One Week so Tech Issues Don’t Affect My Scores?
Perform a complete system check 1 day prior to each exam. A lot of problems are because of software or internet or login problems that are easily correctable beforehand.
- Install and test proctoring software. Honorlock and Proctorio are installed as browser extensions, typically in Google Chrome. Respondus LockDown Browser is a separate download.
- To ensure that your proctoring tool works with your device and operating system, confirm its compatibility.
- Test your webcam, microphone, and screen sharing.
- Where possible, use a wired connection. Have a hotspot phone with you as a backup.
- Refresh your browser and restart your computer.
- Test your login to your LMS.
- Always have identification on hand for identification purposes.
- Write down your instructor’s email address and the number of your school’s IT help desk.
- If a problem occurs in the middle of a test, take a screenshot and send the instructor an email immediately.
How to Avoid Burnout With Multiple Exams in One Week
One reason why burnout occurs is when you give up sleep and breaks for study time.
- Sleep: The CDC recommends that adults aged 18–60 get 7 or more hours of sleep per night. A poor night’s sleep impairs concentration and memory.
- Long hours on devices: Online students spend long hours in front of screens. Take breaks throughout the day.
- Movement: Take a 15-minute walk to clear your mind.
- Meals: Eat at regular times. Eating less reduces your energy.
- Exam nerves: Make a list of three things that you know really well for that subject before you log in.
What is the 1/3,5/7 Rule for Studying?
It is a schedule of spaced learning to reverse memory loss. Rather than cramming, you study the material at regular intervals, which puts it into long-term memory:
Day 1: Study, do some initial review.
Day 3: Recall key concepts on your own without your notes.
Day 5: Focus on areas of weakness and answer practice questions.
Day 7: Quick review to reinforce.
Common Mistakes When Preparing for Several Exams in One Week
- Learning only by looking at slides. Online exams frequently reference readings and discussion posts as well.
- Failure to follow the directions on the exam. The rules for calculators, notes, and backtracking depend on the course.
- Studying with notifications on. Each Alert is a Study Break.
- Taking an open-book exam lightly. They are often harder and more tightly timed.
- Waiting until exam day to ask questions. Teachers might not respond in a timely manner.
Where to Get Help With Multiple Online Exams in One Week
Ask for help with multiple online exams in one week early, not the night before.
- Teachers: Contact them in advance regarding exam conflicts. Some allow rescheduling with advance notice.
- Office hours: Most online courses have virtual office hours.
- Tutoring center: There are many colleges that provide free, online tutoring.
- Accommodations: Students with documented disabilities may request accommodations in disability services, including extended time, under the ADA. Ask them early in the semester, as you may need to wait a period of time for approval.
- Counseling center: If stress impacts your daily life, contact the counseling center.
Conclusion: Your Exam Week Checklist
A heavy exam week comes down to planning, not more hours. Before you start, confirm you have:
- An exam map with windows, formats, and weights
- A priority ranking for each exam
- Daily study blocks on your calendar
- One timed practice test per subject
- A completed tech check
- A fixed bedtime
Frequently Asked Questions
How to study for an exam in 3 days?
If time is limited, focus on high-point topics rather than full coverage:
- Day 1 (Triage & Essentials): Determine which chapters are the most weighted on the grade. Stick to the key concepts, definitions, and formulas.
- Day 2 (Active Testing): Answer old Exam/Coursework or Quiz Banks in a timed format. Get feedback from errors for rapid review.
- Day 3 (Consolidation & Rest): Review your Summary sheets and missed practice questions. Do not learn anything new and sleep for a minimum of seven hours.
Can online tests detect cheating?
Yes. To detect suspicious activity, learning management systems (LMS) and proctoring tools rely on several different tracking methods:
- Web and screen tracking system: software will lock your browser window, prevent copy and paste shortcuts, and record whether or not you have the exam tab open.
- Audio and video surveillance: AI and human proctors watch on a webcam to look for additional voices, missing faces, or excessive blinking.
- Activity logging: Platforms track IP addresses, response times, and logins from additional devices at the same time.
How do I prepare for multiple online exams at the same time?
Work on 2-3 topics per day, each in its own block. Use one notes file and flashcard set for each course or subject; keep them distinct from each other.
How do I make a study schedule for multiple exams?
Work backward from each exam date. Put reviews only on the day before exams. Use the previous days to learn and practice.
How many hours should I study for multiple exams?
There is no fixed number. US colleges recommend between 2 and 3 hours of study per credit hour per week. For exam week, make plans to be able to sustain what you can without sacrificing sleep.
How do I prioritize subjects when preparing for multiple exams?
Compare your current grade with your target grade in each course. The course with the biggest gap and the highest exam weight gets the most time.
How do I manage time during online exams?
Have a watch or small clock handy – a few platforms allow you to turn the timer off. Take a look at your pace at the halfway mark.
How do I prepare for online exams effectively?
Get ready for the content and the platform. Practice quizzes in the same LMS, learn the proctoring rules, and prepare an LMS space for the video camera checks.
What should I do if I get sick or miss an online exam?
Email your instructor as soon as you can, ideally before the exam window closes. Check your syllabus for the make-up exam policy, and keep any documentation, such as a doctor’s note or screenshots of tech errors. If illness affects several courses, contact your school’s dean of students’ office. At many schools, they can notify your instructors and explain options like an incomplete grade.
Which are the 3 toughest exams in the world?
Three exams regularly appear at the top of ranking lists for extreme competition and pass rates under 1%:
- Gaokao (China): A college entrance examination that lasts 9 hours and is taken by more than 10 million students each year.
- UPSC Civil Services Examination (India): A multi-stage examination used to recruit the best civil servants, with an acceptance rate sometimes less than 0.2%.
- California Bar Examination (USA): A professional licensing exam in the United States, known for its broad, multi-subject legal scope and a low pass rate compared to other states.
