Tests, Quizzes, and Surveys!

Your online course may use different types of assessment to help you evaluate your progress. Some courses may use short quizzes throughout modules that allow you to assess whether you understand the materials. These may be ungraded, but always check before beginning any assessment to see if there is a time limit or grades.

Graded Assessments

Some instructors allow students to take quizzes for grades from home, while others have set up quizzes and tests that must be done in one of the proctored labs at the college. Review the directions for all assessments carefully.

Assessments in the George Brown Computer Labs

If you are required to come into the college for a test, check the times the test is open and the location(s). Make sure to bring photo Identification and know how to access and take a Blackboard test. Monitors in the lab are there to monitor tests and to allow you access to the test at times that have been prearranged by your instructor. If you are having any problem logging on to Blackboard, you'll have to sort that out before you arrive to do a test. Take note of what you are allowed to bring into the lab. In general no electronic devices are allowed in the lab. However, if you are taking a statistics course, for example, you may be allowed to bring in a calculator. If you want to clarify what you can bring to the lab, send your instructor an email, or post a question to a discussion board. Students with special needs, should alert their instructors to any accommodation they may require early in the course, so that the instructors can set alternate testing arrangements. To find out about Disability Services at George Brown, see the Student Affairs Disability Services web page.

Preparing for Tests

Just like your face-to-face classes, tests and assessments will vary depending on the course and instructor. The best way to prepare for any assessment is to read and understand all the required content in the course, and to participate in any activities the instructor has set up. Some courses may contain a list of required readings and a list of recommended readings. If you aren't sure which you need to know for the test, ask.

If your instructor has provided practice tests, take time to do them. When you see which questions you struggled with, you can then go back and learn where you went wrong.

Understand the nature of the test. Check to see what type of test you will be taking. Don't assume that because you are taking an online test it will just be multiple choice questions. Some online tests have short answer or essay type questions.

Check out Student Affairs handout on Taking Multiple Choice Tests here

See also the George Brown Student Success website for more tips for success.