By Megan Barnes 

Many students are excited to be back in person after over a year of Zoom classes, but their return has a few strings attached.

Some relaxed their studying routines to adapt to the open-book, open-notes exams that were common during online school — and midterm season on campus proved that these new habits die hard.

Before the pandemic, students usually took closed-book exams, often spending hours memorizing material. In an online learning environment, however, students could use their notes, textbooks and even the Internet to earn at least a passing grade.

Now, they are finding that exams are closed-book once more. And this reversal comes with the burden of relearning old study strategies. 

Juniors Holly Peslis and Eva Tell, both government and politics and public policy double majors, said they found the return to closed-book exams tricky due to rigorous studying and anxiety. 

“I had to relearn how to memorize material, and I had to learn to take more time to study,” Peslis said. “I used to be able to study a day or two before exams, where now I feel like I have to start studying for an exam a week before.”

Tell said she also found study periods challenging, but being back in the classroom had more of an impact. 

“I think the added anxiety of going back to a regular exam makes it a little bit more scary,” Tell said. “That could impact my grades for better or for worse.”

Grades are a big concern for students, and learning former habits while also absorbing material can be a challenging task. 

“My grades are worse simply because I couldn’t finish the exams,” said Kathryn Sturge, a senior physics and astronomy double major. “​​It’s frustrating because it feels like professors are giving pandemic-era exams but in person.” 

Some students said professors made online exams harder because students had unlimited access to resources. Some used a LockDown Browser, an application that prevents students from accessing other tabs or written resources during exams, but many exams were not proctored.

David Karol, an associate professor in the Department of Government and Politics, said he saw no difference in grades when classes moved online. 

“I made sure my exams were timed so they were as close to the real experience as possible,” Karol said. “You can sift through your notes, but the time limit makes it hard to really look through them.” 

Tell said she likes being back in the classroom but misses the flexibility of online exams. 

“I did like having my exams online,” Tell said. “It feels a bit more normal to be back in the regular exam environment, but I still wish I was able to use my notes and take the exams when I wanted to.”

Featured photo: Senior Kathryn Sturge uses her desk in South Campus Commons 6 as a study space. Photo courtesy of Kathryn Sturge.