This is 1 of 10 posts on exams, also known as “The Exam Series,” created by collaborators Amanda Bynum (Professor of Practice, Law | Director, Bar & Academic Success | The University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law); Shane Dizon (Associate Professor of Academic Success | Director, Academic Success Program | Brooklyn Law School); Halle B. Hara (Professor and Director of the Academic Success Program | Capital University Law School); Jacquelyn Rogers (Associate Professor of Law | Academic Success & Bar Preparation | Southwestern Law School); and Sarira A. Sadeghi (The Sam & Ash Director of Academic Achievement | Dale E. Fowler School of Law at Chapman University).

The ideal place for you to complete your take-home final exams and the actual place you must complete your take-home final exams are likely not the same place right now. Nonetheless, you can do this! Here are some considerations as you prepare your physical space for final exams:  

• Choose the space available to you that allows for the least amount of distractions. Consider if this space is in your home or somewhere else. For example, one law student recently discovered that she is most successful and distraction-free when using her mother’s bedroom in her mother’s apartment to attend classes and study. 

• Post a do not disturb sign on the door or wall. Note that a final exam is in progress and include the start and end time. 

• Schedule your exam. Select a designated time for your exam. If possible, ask others in your home to conduct their own conferences/phone calls at another time so as to avoid interfering with your final exam time. 

• Plan for printing. Will your institution allow you to print your exam once entering the exam online? If you don’t know, find out (e.g., contact your Dean of Students). If so, and you do not have a printer, can you borrow one from a friend or family member? Or, can you purchase one on-the-cheap? If you do intend to print your exams, ensure that you have plenty of paper (especially if you have multiple-choice questions to print!) and ink. 

• Consider noise-reducing strategies. Remember, you know how to deal with distractions. Don’t forget about the strategies you’ve implemented previously for proctored exams, including using ear plugs. Other options are noise-canceling headphones, a fan, or a white noise machine. Apple music and other services have white noise tracks as well as fan tracks. Get creative in trying out different strategies. 

• Temporarily reorganizing furniture might be necessary. Try to look at your spaces and furniture with fresh eyes. These unusual times are requiring us to think outside the box in terms of our spaces. Reimagine your space to be as conducive as possible to exam taking. And, after setting up your space, give it a test run during a timed practice and note what works well, what needs improvement, and revise accordingly. 

  Find space to spread out. With open-book exams, don’t underestimate how much space you might take up with outlines, fact patterns, scratch paper, etc. Which desk or table will give you the most space? If you don’t have one, can you borrow a folding table from a friend or neighbor?  

  Determine if you need a secondary surface. Do you need a small surface like a nightstand or side table next to your primary work surface? If so, get creative about what is available. Even a cardboard box or a milk crate can function as a side table.  

Select an appropriate chair. Do you have a chair you’d feel comfortable sitting in for an extended period? It does not need to be a desk chair and shouldn’t be a luxury recliner. Instead, you should realize that you will be using this chair for all of your exams. So, if it gives you a sore back after the first one, you’ll be in severe trouble by the last one. Don’t delay in trying out a few options. Again, consider borrowing a dining room or similar chair from someone if your options are limited.      

Find a good source of lighting. Be sure that you have a good desk lamp to use, especially if you are printing your materials and/or taking your final exams at night. Again, this may require you to move a lamp from a different space into your exam space. Be creative to give yourself the best conditions possible.  

• Have essential items present in the room. Be sure to have any items you might need on hand within your exam space. Items you might consider are tissues, Ibuprofen, lotion, a water bottle, mints, and a healthy snack. See the prior post to find a list of essential exam items. 

• Clean up. Studies show that people who endeavor to work in unclean or disorganized work spaces have unrecognized stress. No matter where you are working, try to review it with fresh eyes. Can you remove a stack of papers or books that hasn’t been touched in years? Is there a pet crate that can be moved into another room? Is your keyboard full of crumbs? Can you open a window to let some fresh air in? Even if you are taking your exam in a large closet (yes, at least one law student plans to do so), make the space as optimal as possible.

Exams will be here before we know it, so start planning today! Do you have any tips, comments, or questions? Leave them in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!