Dates and times

The dates of the tests are given in the Weekly Schedule page and on the List of Assignments and Tests page. They take place during the class periods. These times are fixed. If you miss a test, there is no opportunity to retake it.

Guidelines

The tests are 60 minutes in length. Each test has two questions on material that has been covered in the video lectures, up to and including the lectures for the week before the test.

You are expected to have studied the video lectures before the tests. You may look at the course slides during the examination, but you are not permitted to watch or listen to the videos.

The following are allowed during the tests:

• The tests are open book. You may bring any books or notes.

• Laptop computers, tablets, smartphones, and similar devices may be used (a) to store lecture slides, notes, and other papers and (b) as a calculator.

The following are not allowed during the tests:

• You may not listen to any audio materials or view the video lectures.

• No electronic device may be used for any form of communication, or any activity that involves networking, including email, texting, or searching the web.

Hints

Here are some hints for taking the CS 5150 tests.

• Read the question carefully. If the question describes a computer system, think about it carefully before beginning to answer the question.
• Pay attention to terms that are highlighted in bold or italic. They often contain hints.
• The questions are usually divided into sections with labels such as (a), (b), ... or i, ii, ... . Your solution should be divided into the same sections.
• If the question asks for a fixed number of examples (e.g., "give two examples"), your solution should have exactly the same number, no more and no less.
• The correct answers are always quite short.
• The questions are based on the lectures, but do not copy extracts directly from the slides.

Grades

In calculating the final grade, the grades on the best three questions will be used from the two tests, out of the total of four.

Past tests

Here are examples of tests that have been set in previous years. Note that in previous years the tests were 45 minutes. This year, the tests will be 60 minutes and the questions will be slightly longer.

• Sample test 1
• Sample test 2
• Sample test 3

Return of tests

The graded tests will be returned in class, usually during the week following the date of the test. For the next ten days, any answer books not picked up in class can be picked up from Rhodes Hall 400, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during university breaks. Note the change of room and time. You will need your Cornell ID and you will not be able to pick up answer books for other students.

Regrade requests

If you think there is a grading error, you may request a regrade. To request a regrade, contact me after class, come to my office hours, or send me email.

• No regrade request will be considered more than ten days after the tests are returned.

• Grading mistakes will be corrected, but points will not be changed when the grade is determined by the grader's judgment.