Skip to main content
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals
Menu

Main navigation redesign

  • Programs
    • Bachelor's Programs
      • Nursing
        • Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
        • RN to BSN Option
      • BSN Campus Locations
        • Phoenix, AZ
        • Irwindale, CA
        • Sacramento, CA
        • Jacksonville, FL
        • Miramar, FL
        • Atlanta, GA
        • Stockbridge, GA
        • Addison, IL
        • Chicago, IL
        • Tinley Park, IL
        • Indianapolis, IN
        • New Orleans, LA
        • Troy, MI
        • St. Louis, MO
        • Las Vegas, NV
        • Charlotte, NC
        • North Brunswick, NJ
        • Columbus, OH
        • Houston, TX
        • Irving, TX
        • Pearland, TX
        • San Antonio, TX
        • Tysons Corner, VA
    • Master’s Programs
      • Nursing
        • Master Of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
        • Family Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Graduate Certificates
        • RN to MSN Options
        • Accelerated MSN
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Master of Public Health
        • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
        • Master of Social Work
    • Doctorate Programs
      • Nursing
        • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • Certificates
      • Nursing
        • Nursing Certificates
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Public Health Certificate
  • Admission
    • Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • Curriculum and Catalogs
    • Become a Student
      • Military Information
      • Transfer Students
  • Financial Aid
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Tuition and Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Aid Forms
      • Partnerships
    • Financial Assistance
      • Scholarships
      • Federal and State Grants
      • Applying for Federal Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
  • Why Chamberlain
    • Our Story
      • History
      • Our Vision
      • Chamberlain Care
      • Commitment to Impact
    • About Chamberlain
      • Leadership
      • Campus Locations
      • Newsroom
      • Blog
      • Accreditation
      • Student Consumer Information
      • Alumni

Mobile Secondary Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Mobile Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
  • Transfers
  • Military
  • Alumni
  • Partners
  • Employers
  • Transcripts

Top Utility Navigation

  • Current Students
  • Information For
    • Current Students
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfers
    • Military
    • Alumni
    • Partners
    • Employers
    • Transcripts
  • Chat
  • 877.751.5783
Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Main navigation redesign

  • Programs
    • Bachelor's Programs
      • Nursing
        • Bachelor Of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Bachelor of Science in Nursing Online
        • RN to BSN Option
      • BSN Campus Locations
        • Phoenix, AZ
        • Irwindale, CA
        • Sacramento, CA
        • Jacksonville, FL
        • Miramar, FL
        • Atlanta, GA
        • Stockbridge, GA
        • Addison, IL
        • Chicago, IL
        • Tinley Park, IL
        • Indianapolis, IN
        • New Orleans, LA
        • Troy, MI
        • St. Louis, MO
        • Las Vegas, NV
        • Charlotte, NC
        • North Brunswick, NJ
        • Columbus, OH
        • Houston, TX
        • Irving, TX
        • Pearland, TX
        • San Antonio, TX
        • Tysons Corner, VA
    • Master’s Programs
      • Nursing
        • Master Of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
        • Family Nurse Practitioner
        • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Graduate Certificates
        • RN to MSN Options
        • Accelerated MSN
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Master of Public Health
        • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
        • Master of Social Work
    • Doctorate Programs
      • Nursing
        • Doctor of Nursing Practice
    • Certificates
      • Nursing
        • Nursing Certificates
      • Healthcare Professions
        • Public Health Certificate
  • Admission

    Admission

    Our team is with you every step of the way, providing the information you need to make the decisions that best serve you.

    • Resources
      • Academic Calendar
      • Curriculum and Catalogs
    • Become a Student
      • Military Information
      • Transfer Students
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

  • Financial Aid

    Financial Aid

    Get support as you navigate paying for your education. Request information to connect with our admission team to discuss your financial options.

    • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Tuition and Expenses
      • Types of Financial Assistance
      • Financial Aid Forms
      • Partnerships
    • Financial Assistance
      • Scholarships
      • Federal and State Grants
      • Applying for Federal Aid
      • Work Study
      • Loans
      • Educational Healthcare Partners
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

  • Why Chamberlain

    Why Chamberlain

    Chamberlain University has a 130-year history preparing extraordinary nursing graduates and healthcare professionals. 

    • Our Story
      • History
      • Our Vision
      • Chamberlain Care
      • Commitment to Impact
    • About Chamberlain
      • Leadership
      • Campus Locations
      • Newsroom
      • Blog
      • Accreditation
      • Student Consumer Information
      • Alumni
    smiling doctor with a young child
    Find My Program

    Find the path to your healthcare career goal.

Secondary Header Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Featured

group of smiling nurses studying and collaborating
Are RN to BSN Nursing Programs Worth It?
caregiver with patient in a home setting
Preparing for Your Career as a Family…
Three male nurses smiling with their hands on each other's shoulders
6 Reasons Men Are Choosing a Career in…

Tags

Browse articles by category
Alumni
Campus News
Careers
Health Professions
Nursing Today
Tips for Students

Share

Blog Social Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Home
  • How to Take an Online Test

How to Take an Online Test

December 02, 2014 by Julie McAfooes
test success

As a student, it's inevitable that you will have to demonstrate your knowledge by taking tests.

Online testing can differ from in-class testing in important ways. Online tests offer unique challenges including the need for stable Internet connections, a lack of a live professor to ask questions to and the possibility of not knowing how far along you are during the test.

The following tips can enhance your online testing success. Be sure to also check out our 17 Tips for Studying in Nursing School, submitted by students just like you.

  1. Test your technology. Usually all you need to take an in-class test is a sharp pencil. But online testing requires a reliable Internet connection and a computer with appropriate software. If you cannot create this environment at home, consider taking your test at your workplace or library. Give yourself plenty of time in advance to download necessary software and test your application. Keep the numbers for technical support handy in case you need to contact someone for assistance.
  2. Don't cram. The freedom that comes with online learning to be able to study when and where you please puts the responsibility on you to determine how you will accomplish this. The lack of structure may tempt you to delay until the deadline for test-taking looms. Avoid cramming at the last minute by scheduling days on your calendar when you will study smaller chunks of material.
  3. Know the rules. Check for directions regarding what is allowable and what is not. For example, can you look up answers? Are the questions timed? Can you change your answer? Do you have to answer a question before you can progress to the next? Is there is a penalty for wrong answers? Once you know the rules, you can make better decisions, such as whether to guess or leave answers blank and return later.
  4. Schedule time. There is typically a window of opportunity in which you are allowed to take your test. Don’t procrastinate until the last minute. If you encounter a technical difficulty or other problem, you will still have time to finish the test at a later date. If, for some reason, you miss taking the test, notify your instructor as soon as possible.
  5. Keep pace. You can estimate how long a paper test will be from the volume of pages. But an online test might not always give you this feedback. Seek indicators that help you keep on track by noting what you have finished, and what is left to go such as “question 12 of 25,” or a progress bar that fills in, or a clock that counts down time.
  6. Get comfortable. Sit in a chair that is at the correct height and has a comfortable seat and make sure your screen has no glare.
  7. Avoid distractions. If you are taking your test at home, make certain that you are able to concentrate on the test and not the demands from children, pets, housework, cooking, and other concerns that tug on your time. Turn off the television and reduce the clutter near your computer. Try taking the test when your house is quiet, such as when children are at school, or after they have gone to bed. If it is difficult to create an ideal environment at home, consider taking the test at an alternate location, like a local library.
  8. Stay calm. Most students experience some anxiety when taking a test. In fact, a little anxiety can make you more alert, which will help you when answering questions. But too much anxiety may cause you to make mistakes. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep and eat a nourishing meal before the test. For added help, see our post on Overcoming Test Anxiety in 4 Steps.
  9. Organize resources. Your teacher may allow you to take an “open book” test, which means that you can use resources to help you answer the questions. Take advantage by gathering your books, notes, articles and other materials ahead of time. Organize them in a way that makes information easier to find, especially during a timed test. This might mean placing a sticky not on the edge of the paper, or highlighting certain passages. This preparation is also a good review. You may find that by test day, you already know the answers!

You don’t need to try all of the tips in order to be successful. Choose two or three that are easy for you to incorporate into your routine, and evaluate if they were beneficial. Over time, expand your strategies to include more until you are an expert test taker.

By Julie McAfooes

More from Home

View all >
girl holding resume
5 Tips for Writing a Nursing Resume
Read more
travel nurse poses in front of new york city skyline
Chamberlain Grad is Travel Nursing on the Front Lines of…
Read more
headshot of Sandy Pratt
Family of Front Line COVID-19 Nurses “Zoom” in to Stay…
Read more
nurses on boards coalition partnership
Chamberlain Supports the Nurses on Boards Coalition through…
Read more
Show more >

Request More Information

To receive the Chamberlain University Program Guide, including associated career paths, please select a program of study.

Chamberlain University, College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Secondary Footer Navigation

  • Apply
  • Request More Info
  • Request More Info
  • Call
  • Apply
  • Request Info
  • Request Info

Student Portal Login

Main Campus
Addison Campus
1221 North Swift Road
Addison, IL 60101 

National Management Offices
233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 800
Chicago, Illinois 60606

All Campus Locations
Contact

Footer Menu Column 1

  • Online Programs
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies
  • Alumni Association
  • Chamberlain Marketplace
  • Military
  • Leadership
  • Catalog & Viewbook
  • Transcripts

Footer Menu Column 2

  • Student Portal
  • Student Consumer Info
  • Accreditation
  • Parent Organization
  • CA Performance Fact Sheets
  • CA BPPE Annual Report
  • CA BPPE Website
  • Cost of Attendance

Footer Menu Column 3

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Student Disability Services
  • Office of Nondiscrimination and Access
RELATED CONTENT
  • HESI A2 Admission Assessment
  • Chamberlain and the DAISY Foundation™
  • The HESI Exam: What Chamberlain University...

Footer Social Media Navigation

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

2025 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.

Footer Menu Line 1

  • Online Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • *Students who apply and qualify for the Aspiring Nurse Program must graduate from Chamberlain University’s BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and fulfill employment obligations with SSM Health of up to four years to receive loan repayment. Full coverage requires funding 100% of tuition and fees with student loans. Benefits such as loan repayments may be subject to taxes. 

    † Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, ccneaccreditation.org. The Chamberlain University Doctor of Nursing Practice (delivered via distance education) is accredited by the National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) located at 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Chamberlain University’s Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, www.ceph.org. For the most updated accreditation information, visit chamberlain.edu/accreditation. Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation, www.cswe.org. Detailed accreditation information for Chamberlain’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) programs can be found at this link

    Certified to Operate by SCHEV. 

    To report unresolved complaints to the Illinois Board of Higher Education visit their webpage at https://complaints.ibhe.org/ or by mail to 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333, Springfield, IL 62701-1377. View Chamberlain's complaint process.

    Chamberlain University confers online degrees from its Main Campus in Addison, IL.

    Chamberlain University is a member of Adtalem Global Education Inc. www.adtalem.com
    ©2025 Chamberlain University LLC. All rights reserved.