Rob Kremer

Practical Software Engineering

General Advice

• Doing a brain dump of all you know isn't good enough for marks. If you are asked for n items, write down n items. The instructor is under no obligation to mark n+m items. If extra items are listed and they are wrong, marks will normally be deducted.
• If you are asked for explanations or definitions, give explanations or definitions. Not examples. If you are asked for a list of concepts with explanations or definitions, marks will not necessarily be given for just the concept name. The instructor is interested in your knowledge of software engineering, not your ability to memorize lists.
• If you can't think of a term, write down a short phrase describing the term. The instructor wants to know if you know the subject; forgetting a term is relatively trivial (in most cases).
• You are being marked not only on your knowledge of the subject, but also on how you can express yourself. You may know the subject, but it doesn't count unless you can convince the instructor (on paper) that you know it. You will find the same principle holds in both industry and academia.
• Read and listen to all instructions and follow them! Marks will be deducted for failing to follow instructions. This includes starting each question at the top of the page and remaining in your seat for the last 10 minutes of the exam. If you can't follow simple instructions, you aren't ready for industry or grad school.
• It's usually a good idea to read all the questions before beginning the exam. Answer the ones you find easiest first, then go on to the harder ones. The order in which you list your answer questions in the booklet is unimportant.

Exam Instructions

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.

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

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.

Rob Kremer