Exams
Table of contents
There are 3 in-class exams spaced ~3 weeks apart; they are non-cumulative, closed-note, and 50 minutes long, with 20 multiple-choice questions (including select-all questions) and 2 free-response questions.
- Exam 1 — Monday, Oct 19
- Exam 2 — Monday, Nov 9
- Exam 3 — Wednesday, Dec 2
- Elective final — Wednesday, Dec 9, 9-11am @ COA 130
Quizzes are closed-note and mirror the timing and content of exams (half the time and content). They can be retaken as many times as needed until you achieve 100%.
Sections will be used for (1) review of course material (teaching staff will walk through exam practice questions) and (2) open homework help/project work/office hours.
Can I bring a cheat sheet to the exams?
No, all exams are closed-note. However, students who make and submit handwritten cheat sheets (no page limit) before the exam, via Gradescope, will earn +1 extra course point (the logic being that exams are meant to test genuine mastery of course material, but making hand-written cheat sheets is an excellent way to study — and I want to encourage that!).
Do you curve exams?
Please note that I do not curve exams. I strive to write fair exams that test knowledge taught in class, and offer many practice problems that are representative of what’s on the exam. The historic median on my exams is ~75% (widely regarded in psychometrics as a healthy score for a fair exam), and there are always students who score 100%. Despite this exam average, the course’s final average grade is typically a B or B+.
Can I request a regrade of my exam?
Yes. You can request a regrade of homeworks, project checkpoints, and exams within 48 hours (2 days) of the grades being released. For homeworks and exams, please request the regrade through Gradescope. For project checkpoints, please contact your project mentor directly. Regrades requested after 48 hours will not be fulfilled.
What happens if I miss an exam or have testing accommodations?
We will use the Triton Testing Center (TTC) located in Pepper Canyon Hall 364 to administer exams for students with documented accommodations and for legitimate excused absences (does NOT include voluntary travel).
If you know you need to miss an exam for a legitimate reason, please let Prof. Lai know ASAP. You may schedule your make-up exam within a 1-week window after the initial exam date. (Those with documented testing accommodations must schedule to take the exam the same day as everyone else). Other exceptions will only be granted under extenuating circumstances (sudden illness, family situations).
The elective final
In this course, you have the option of completing a group project OR taking a traditional, sit-down final exam.
If you choose not to complete the group project, you’ll take a sit-down final exam (40 multiple-choice questions, 3 free-response questions) at the time scheduled by the registrar.
You must decide between the two options by Week 3 of the course (when we start sorting project groups). In cases where a group member is not contributing to their group’s project, they may be removed from the project and asked to complete the final exam instead.