Rob Kremer

UofC

Practical Software Engineering


Advice on Exams

General Advice

The exams are designed to test your knowledge of the subject, your ability to clearly explain the subject, and your ability to read and follow instructions. In particular:

Exam Instructions

Following is the standard instructions that normally appear on exams. But please read the instructions that appear on the actual exam; they may be different.
  1. Use pen only.
  2. Answer all questions on the answer booklet provided.
  3. Answer all questions.
  4. Start each major question (1,2,3...) on a new page (2 marks off per question if you don't)
  5. Write your name and student ID number on each page.
  6. Write clearly and neatly; illegible answers will not be considered.
  7. Keep you answers as brief as possible; marks will be deducted for long-winded answers.
Explanations (if you need them):
  1. Use pen only. Since pencil can be easily erased, no appeals can be entertained on exams done in pencil. Also, pencil smears and can be hard to read. This won't put the instructor in a generous mood.
  2. Answer all questions on the answer booklet provided. The instructor will not refer to the question sheet for supplementary material, etc.
  3. Answer all questions. Simple.
  4. Start each major question (1,2,3...) on a new page (2 marks off per question if you don't). Marking large quantities of exams is difficult enough without having to hunt for questions. This is simple for the student to do. So do it or loose marks for now following instructions.
  5. Write your name and student ID number on each page. It's possible for the exam booklet to become separated; this will enable us to reconstitute it.
  6. Write clearly and neatly; illegible answers will not be considered. If the instructor can't read it, you can't get any marks (no matter how hard you argue for them later).
  7. Keep you answers as brief as possible; marks will be deducted for long-winded answers. Just like in industry, brief, clear explanations are rewarded, for they imply a clear understanding of the subject matter. Long, opaque explanations are ignored, for they imply deception and lack of understanding.

Appeals

Every effort is made to mark fairly and accurately. Exams are marked according to a very specific marking scheme. In the interests of fairness, no individual exceptions to this scheme are allowed.

The instructor welcomes appeals for the correction of adding mistakes and obvious marking errors. However, "fishing for marks" is not fair to other students and is strongly discouraged: Exams are usually marked "generously", but if a student presents a trivial appeal, the instructor reserves the right to re-mark "to the letter", and the student is as likely to loose marks as gain marks.


UofC Practical Software Engineering, Department of Computer Science
Rob Kremer