How do
I Take Online Exams in Self-Paced Math 140?
(but first read about the testing system
below)
Using the computer testing system
Testing for the exams in this course is done at a special web
server named EDU (link given at the top of this page).
There are three types of online exams used in this course. You can take pretests
and practice exams from any computer you want, using any web browser. You
must take proctored exams in the Math
Computer Lab (449 Carver). The Unit Exams, Midterm
Exam, and Final Exam are all examples of online proctored exams. The pretests will
help you learn the material and prepare for the Unit Exams, and the practice exams
will be especially useful for reviewing material for the final exams. You can also
check your scores and review previous exams from any computer you want.
Learning how to use the testing system:
- Start with the
testing web site. The
links on the left side of the screen will take you to the different parts of the
testing system.
- Create a user record by choosing the Register link, and
then selecting your class Math 140 W1:
Poon from the dropdown list. Fill in
the information in the form. Please be accurate.
- Choose a login name.
- Choose a pasword.
- For "student ID number",
type in your Social Security #.
- Please fill in your email address,
even though it is optional. This will give me a way to get in touch with you if there
is any problem with your records, and to send you announcements.
- Read the material
below and read the
Math Syntax page. This page shows you
how to enter mathematical symbols in text
mode. In some questions, you will be given an option Change Math Entry Mode. Since
this option does not work well on the Macintosh, you should stick with the text mode.
- Try the Online Testing Practice Exam.
This exam will quiz you on the various question types used in EDU and on some
of the course rules. Take this exam as many times as you
need to get all or most of the questions correct. This exam does not count for any
credit, but it will help you learn how the testing system works and help you avoid
problems in the future.
- Now you are ready to move on to Unit 1. Follow the instructions given in the Study
Guidelines for Unit 1, and then in the Unit 1 Exam Description.
EDU Question Types and Syntax
EDU has a number of different question types. While some
questions are multiple choice, most of them are "free response" with an
answer box for you to type in your answer. For the most part, you can enter your
answer in "calculator syntax", pretty much as you would on a graphing calculator.
For more details, you should read the
Math Syntax page. This page is also accessible
to you during the tests. Look for the link underneath each answer box. Most of what
you need to know is mentioned in that page.
There are a few additional things I would like to point out:
- Remember to look under the entry box for the description
of the expected format of the answer. If you are not sure of the correct syntax,
click on the
math syntax link which is also located
under the answer box.
- Use the Preview feature. On exam questions with an
answer box, the PREVIEW button will show you your answer in normal typeset notation.
This will help you put parentheses in the correct places, especially valuable for
answers involving quotients and formulas of functions. The Preview
button requires that Java is enabled in your web browser. If the system shows you
a preview that looks essentially like what you typed in, check the browser preference
settings.
- There are two kinds of multiple choice questions: those that
take a single answer, and those that accept multiple answers. You can tell them apart
in three ways:
- The buttons have different shapes. However, the exact shape
depends on the type of web browser you use, and maybe even your preference settings.
- Try pushing a second button. If the first one pops out, this
is a question with a single answer.
- The problem may tell you whether one or several answers are
expected.
- Unless explicitly specified otherwise, all questions take
exact answers. If the answer is sqrt(2), then 1.41421 is not a correct answer, even if you type in 10 decimals.
- It never hurts to put in too many parentheses. It may
hurt you if you don't put in enough. EDU evaluates your answer in order
of precedence; operators of equal precedence get evaluated left to right. The order
is (from highest to lowest):
- Exact answers vs. approximations: All answers must
be exact, unless you are specifically requested to give an approximation. If you
are asked to give an approximation, then your answer must be accurate to at least
the requested number of decimal places after the decimal point. For example, you
might be asked to provide an answer that is accurate to at least three digits.
In your corrected exam, you may see something like 1.41421356237 ? 0.001.
The question mark means "plus or minus", so anything within 0.001 of the
first number counts as correct. Thus, for example, if you answered 1.414, or 1.4142, or 1.415, these
would all be graded as correct.
- While we are on the subject of approximate numerical answers:
some word problems require you to find some intermediate results first. Make
sure you use enough decimals of accuracy for those. If you round some intermediate
value to two decimals, your final answer will not be correct to three decimals. You
should use at least four or five decimals for the intermediate calculations, to be
on the safe side.
- When it comes to typing in equations of curves, the
basic rule is: your answer must be a single equation which has the same graph
as the given correct answer. So, if the given answer is y=x+2, and
you type in y-x=2, that is correct. However, if the answer is x=y^2, and you type in y=sqrt(x),
that is wrong. The reason is that the graph of x=y^2 is a parabola, but the graph of y=sqrt(x) is the upper half of a parabola. You also cannot combine equations
(for example, an answer such as y=sqrt(x)
; y=-sqrt(x)
would be incorrect).
- Answers with units: You are probably used to adding units
(such as "meters" or "seconds") to the answers of application
problems. It is possible to design questions like that in EDU, but it has caused
confusion in the past, so we have not used this feature. Therefore, do not add units to any of your answers.
Other hints and information:
- How many questions? Each unit pretest or unit exam
has between 12 and 15 questions, with a range of difficulty. Each unit exam description
(for example, see the Unit
1 exam description) gives more detailed information
on that particular exam. When computing final grades, each proctored unit exam will
be rescaled to 15 points total, so they all have equal weight. Each unit pretest
will be rescaled to 5 points total. The midterm and final exams have 30 and 40 questions
respectively.
- Which browser? Both the Netscape and
Internet Explorer browsers work fine on a Windows computer or on a Macintosh with
a fast internet connection. However, if you are using a Macintosh computer with a
modem, then the "preview" feature in the exams works better in Netscape
than in Internet Explorer. Netscape on Project Vincent or Linux is also okay. Remember
to leave the preview window open while you are taking an exam. That way the preview
applet only needs to load (a time-consuming process) once.
- Security: Be sure to QUIT YOUR BROWSER when you are
done working within the testing system. Otherwise, you will remain "logged in"
to the testing system, and the next person to use the computer can assume your identity.
- System errors: The testing system is quite robust (in
particular, with a few rare exceptions, it never loses any work that you have already
done). However, there have been a few rare instances of glitches in the testing system,
caused by network or browser errors.
- Use the buttons in the testing window to move between questions, don't
use the "Back" button on your browser. If you do, you may lose some of
your answers. On rare occasions, answers have also disappeared as a result of rapid
clicking on the Forward or Back button. If you hit one of those
buttons after the top of the page has loaded, but before your previous answer has
loaded, that answer may disappear. So don't push the navigation buttons too fast.
- Netscape occasionally gets the images confused. If a test problem does not look
correct to you (for example if you are given a multiple choice question with two
identical answers), please notify your proctor. You will probably have to clear the
cache on your browser, quit and start it up again, and re-enter your exam (with your
proctor's help and permission).
- Once you enter an answer and then move on to the next question, your answer should
be saved. However, if you enter an answer but then stay on that question for awhile,
you should press the "Save" button in the testing window to make sure the
system saves your answer.
- Occasionally the testing system may become confused and log you out of the exam.
But don't worry, your previous work will have been saved. If this happens, show your
proctor, and then simply log in to the exam again. You will be given a choice which
allows you to finish working on the old exam.
- If you get an error which ultimately causes you to miss a problem, please show
it to your proctor and have the proctor send me a confirming note about the problem.You
will probably just have to take the exam again, but at least I can give you a deadline
extension in this case.The point is that you need to do something right away when
this happens. You cannot come back a week later and tell me that you had a problem
on an earlier exam.
- Exam errors: I will pay
you one extra unit exam point if you find an error in one of the unit exams. This
means an error in the answer to one of the problems on either a pretest, a practice
exam, or a proctored exam. However, I will only pay the first person who finds the
error. Of course, even if you are not the first to report an error, I will certainly
give you back the point if you did the problem correctly on a proctored exam. Just
bring the exam in and show me, or send me an email detailing the exam and problem.
I usually try to correct all errors myself on pretests and
proctored exams. However, if that is impractical, I will instead post the error on
the errors page,
and each person in the class can then check his or her own exam using the My
Results link on the testing web site.
Important rules:
- Due Dates and Makeups: Each
course unit, midterm exam, and final exam is supposed to be completed by the designated
Due Date.
Because this is a self-paced class, and you have lots of time
to take each exam, I will not grant any
exceptions for illness, travel, car breakdowns, etc. It
is best not to wait until the last day to take an exam, because you might not feel
good that day, or you might get a flat tire, etc. Plan ahead and take the exam on
a day when you feel good and are ready for the exam. On the other hand, there are
a couple of exceptions to this "no exceptions" rule. These will be decided
on a case-by-case basis, but you must certainly contact me promptly if you are in
either of these situations:
- For a particular exam, you must have a verifiable excuse (illness or family
emergency, operational problem with our lab and/or testing system) for the entire
week before the due date.
- If you have a serious long-term illness or family emergency which will heavily
impact your ability to continue on schedule in the class.
- Time limit: Different exams may have different time
limits, but most exams have a time limit of 60 minutes. In
general, most people complete the exams within 45 minutes.
- Work on the exam only, and no notes or books. While
taking the exam, you cannot consult books or notes, and you cannot use the computer
for anything other than the exam - in other words, no other applications or windows
may be open, except for the
math syntax window. You may work out problems
on pencil and paper, and calculators are allowed on most exams. The unit study guidelines
will indicate if calculators are not allowed.
- Abandoned exams: You cannot abandon
a proctored exam once you have started it. The exam will be graded "as is"
the next time you come in to take an exam. (However, if you just need a drink or
a restroom break, ask the proctor.)
- Repeats: You may retake a pretest as many times as
you wish up until the Due Date. Your best score will count. You may also retake a
proctored exam if you wish, subject to the rule given below, and again your best
score will count. However, it is really better and more convenient to use the pretests
to work out any problems you are having, and then take the proctored exam. But in
case you do have a bad day, you can retake the exam subject to the following rule:
- You cannot take more than one proctored exam on the same
unit on any single day (the idea is that you should spend some time going
over your mistakes before trying again).
- Grade appeals: Computer grading
is quite rigid, and I know that can be a frustrating problem - sometimes questions
are missed just because of a syntax error, not a math error. To avoid these problems,
make sure that you do the following:
- Read the Unit Exam Description before taking any
exams on that unit (pretest, practice, or proctored). You will be warned about any
new types of syntax problems.
- Take several pretests before you take a proctored exam. Any problems with syntax
will almost certainly show up here, and you can then avoid them on the proctored
exam.
- Take the proctored exam a few days before the due date. Then you will have several
chances to repeat the exam if you made any errors.
- When taking an exam, make sure that you look under the answer box for the type
of answer expected. You can also refer to the
math syntax page
at any time.
Because you are allowed to repeat exams, grade appeals will generally
not be granted. However, they will certainly be granted if there is an error in the
problem (see the Errors page). If you want to appeal the scoring on any of your unit exams,
I will be most inclined to consider your request if you bring it to my attention
soon after the exam, but in any case you must do so before the final exam of the
course. I will not consider any appeals after that time. Send me an email with
the exam number(s) and question number(s) that you would like me to look at, and
I will consider your request.
Reviewing your records
and old exams:
- You can review your records and old exams at any time
using the
My Results link.
Exam Descriptions
Be sure to read the description of each exam (available via
the links below) before you take that exam. These include reminders and announcements
about syntax, and other information about exam questions. I expect you to read this
information.
self-paced
Math 140 home page