Exam Policies

Midterm Exam Logistics

  • For those attending lab on Tuesday or Wednesday: 2020-10-27 8pm-10pm (evening midterm)
  • For those attending lab on Thursday or Friday: 2020-10-28 10am-noon (morning midterm)
  • Location: https://msu.zoom.us/j/94955751228 Passcode: cse232

Both exams will be 90 minutes in duration (from timer start to timer end), but everyone needs to be present in the Zoom meeting at the start of the scheduled exam time to ensure that everything is setup properly.

If you can't make the exam time, please respond to the Piazza post announcing this exam indicating that you need to attend the other exam offering.

Exam Logistics

For students with conflicts with both of those times, please respond to the Piazza Post announcing this exam. We will provide an alternative exam time later in the week for those whom the original date doesn't work. Note: you need to announce a valid time conflict with the both the exam times ASAP to be eligible for the alternative exam.

If you cannot make the original nor the alternative exam times contact us via Piazza to make accommodations ASAP. Additionally, if you have university-approved accommodations (VISA), please inform us of them as well.

During Lab 6, you will be given specific instructions in how the exam will occur. You will need to use the Zoom app on device with a camera (likely a phone or tablet) that is able to show your workspace and screen. You will additionally need a computer (likely a laptop or desktop) from which you will take the exam (which will be a Mimir assignment).

Example View From Zoom Device

Dr Anderson's Zoom Device View

Please ensure that your screen, workspace and self are visible by the Zoom device throughout the exam. Picture used with permission from Dr. Yolanda Anderson.

Rules

  • During the exam, you are only permitted to communicate with instructors. And only with them via private Zoom messages. Please ensure that any other messaging platforms are disabled for the duration of the exam.
  • Only the Mimir page with the exam is allowed to be open during the exam. And the Zoom device is only allowed to be used to display your workspace or message instructors.
  • You are welcome to use any non-electronic resource you like during the exam. This includes: textbooks, printed lectures, notes, your printed homework/lab/sample exam solutions, instructor solutions, and birthday cards. You may NOT use any website or any other electronic resource.

Preparing for an Exam

Prior to the exam, a sample exam will be released with questions broadly similar to the actual exam. A sample exam key will also be provided (perhaps a few days later). The best way to prepare is to solve the sample exam, on your own, with only the material you intend to bring to the actual exam. If you can't solve a question, come to office hours, or ask for help on Piazza. Only after solving the exam should you look at the solutions.

There will be a midterm review session exactly one week prior to the exam (2020-10-20 8pm) where we will be going over any questions you might have on the material covered by the midterm exam.

Cheatsheets and Exam Aids

The exam is open book, meaning you can bring whatever material you want with you to the exam. Printouts of the reference material, text books, hand written and typed notes, the sample exam and key, are all fine to bring. The one exception is that there can be no electronics out during the exam (phones, smartwatches, digital pets, all go in your bag).

I recommend bringing reference material on the topics that are hard to remember. Like the useful functions in the STL algorithm library and the useful data structures (vector, string, map, set, ...).

Content Covered

Both the midterm and final exams are comprehensive and cover all material taught in lecture, labs, and via assignments. The midterm exam will cover content up to and including Week 6. The final exam will cover everything.

Previous Exams

Every Exam given in this course can be found here: Old Exams. Note: content on old exams won't neccessarily be relevant on this semester's exams given that the course has evolved over time.

Also note: these exams were given in-person. As this semester's exam will be conducted remotely, the style of the exam will differ greatly.