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 MapleTA
(link given at the top of this page). You can check your scores, review
previous
exams, and take Pretests and Practice Exams from any
computer you want,
using any web browser. You must take the Proctored Exams in the
presence of
your designated proctor (see the proctor
arrangements page for details). The
Practice Exams
are especially useful for reviewing material for the final exams. The
final exams
themselves are also online Proctored Exams.
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.
- Choose the Register for this class link on the testing web
site to create your user record (note:
you will not be able to create a user record until the official
beginning date of the course).
Fill in the requested information in the form that appears. Please be
accurate.
- Choose your own login name and password, and write it down.
- Your "ISU netid" is the portion of your
ISU email address preceding "@iastate.edu".
- 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. Also, if you forget your password, the testing
system can send it to your email address.
- Read
the material below and read the Math Syntax page.
- Try the Online Testing Practice
Exam. This exam will quiz
you on the various question types used in MapleTA 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.
- If the testing system doesn't seem to work
correctly for you, be sure to consult the Technical Notes
page.
MapleTA Question Types and Syntax
MapleTA 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. Most of what you need to
know is mentioned
on that page. A similar syntax help page is also accessible to you
during the tests
(look for the Help link underneath each answer box).
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 Help
link which is located under the answer box.
- Use the Preview
feature. On exam questions with an answer box, the Preview
link (located under the answer box) 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 link 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. MapleTA 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 symbol 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
MapleTA, 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 exam has
between 16 and 25 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.
- Which browser? You will need access to a computer with an internet
connection and one of the supported operating system / web browser combinations.
- Other operating system / web browser combinations may or may
not work.
- Most dialup internet service providers will probably work
fine, but the AOL internet service provider will NOT work with the
testing system. If you use AOL, you will need to subscribe to one of
the other free or low-cost providers.
- Preview window:
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.
- Grading: Be sure to always grade your pretests and exams. Your online assignment is not complete until you have
finished the grading process. If you leave an assignment ungraded, then
no score is recorded. In addition, you may be locked out of any further
online assignments. (Note: Grading is a
2-step process - you must press the GRADE button two times to complete
the process.)
- 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.
- On rare occasions in the past, answers have disappeared as a
result of rapid clicking on the Next 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.
- As with all web browsers, occasionally an image may not load.
In this case, try the Next and Back buttons - that
will usually clear up the problem. If the problem is persistent, then
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.
- 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 send me an email
identifying the exam and question number.
I will post all errors on the errors page, and each person in the class can then check his or her
own exam using the View
Past Results link on the testing web
site.
Instructions
and Rules
for Pretests:
Each unit includes a Unit Pretest which will help
prepare you
for the proctored Unit Exam.
Instructions:
- Before taking any Pretests, you must first register on the online testing system.
- You can complete the Pretests at the testing web
site from anywhere on the internet.
- Time limit: Different Pretests may have
different time limits, but most of them have a time limit of 60
minutes, and the time limit is the same for the corresponding Proctored
Exam. In general, most people complete the
Pretests and Exams within 45 minutes.
- Deadline: The Unit Pretest must be
completed on or before the deadline date listed on the Detailed Schedule. Be sure that you read and understand the Deadline Policy.
Rules:
- You may use your textbook and notes on
Pretests.
- Calculators. Graphing calculators are
allowed (and often needed) on most pretests and exams. However, calculators are NOT allowed on the
Unit 2 Pretest and Unit 9 Pretest.
- Repeats: You may repeat these
Pretests as many times as you like (your best score counts). The
questions will change each time you repeat a Pretest.
- I recommend that you take several Pretests on each unit
(preferably on different days) before you try the actual proctored Unit
Exam. Organize your work in a notebook, with the Pretest dated and each
problem numbered. After you take the Pretest, you can print it out,
check over each problem, and get help with the problems that you
missed. This is one of the best methods for preparing for the exams.
- A record of your Pretests is retained in the system. You can
then go back and look up any of your old Pretests, review which
problems you missed, etc. (use the "View Past
Results" link on the testing
web site).
You will also have a record of your improvement as you repeat these
Pretests.
- I can also look up your old Pretests, so if you have a
question about a particular problem, I can then look and see what the
problem is and what answer you entered.
- Remember that each Unit Pretest counts 5
points toward your course grade (your best score will be scaled to 5
points).
Instructions
and Rules
for Proctored Exams:
Instructions:
- Before taking any Proctored Exams, you must first register on the online testing system. In addition, you must take the corresponding Unit
Pretest before taking the (proctored) Unit Exam.
- Proctors: All exams must be taken in
the presence of your designated and approved proctor. Also, you may not
take exams in your own home or on your own computer. See the proctor arrangements page for more detailed rules concerning proctors.
- Always remember to bring a picture ID
to your testing location so that you can identify yourself to your
proctor.
- After you select your exam on your computer,
the proctor will authorize the beginning of your exam, using the
proctor's computer.
- Time limit: Different Proctored Exams
may have different time limits, but most of them have a time limit of
60 minutes, and the time limit is the same for the corresponding
Pretest. In general, most people complete
the Pretests and Exams within 45 minutes.
- When you are done with your exam, notify your
proctor, and he or she will authorize the grading of the exam. You will
then be able to look at all of the details of the graded exam. Be sure to complete the grading process - don't leave
your exam ungraded.
- Be sure to close your browser when you are
done.
- If you have any technical problems while
taking an exam, please inform your instructor. The testing system works
well with most computer and network setups, but occasionally there are
situations in which it won't work. In addition, if your proctor is new
to the testing system, it may take a couple of attempts to understand
the authorization and testing procedure. For these reasons, it's
important to try your first exam at least a few days before the
deadline date.
- Deadline: The Unit Proctored Exam must
be completed on or before the deadline date listed on the Detailed Schedule. Be sure that you read and understand the Deadline Policy.
Rules:
- No talking! Just like all exams in
other classes, you must not talk with anyone else in the testing
location during the exam. Any such violation amounts to academic
misconduct. Likewise, if you are in the testing location and NOT taking
an exam, do not attempt to talk to anyone who IS taking an exam.
- 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 windows that are opened via the testing system Help and
Preview links located under the answer box. You may work out
problems on pencil and paper, and calculators are allowed on most exams (see the next item).
- Calculators. Graphing calculators are
allowed (and often needed) on most pretests and exams. However, calculators are NOT allowed on the
Unit 2 Exam and Unit 9 Exam.
- 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 Proctored
Exam if you wish, subject to the rule given below, and your best score
will be counted. However, it is really better and more convenient to
use the Pretests exams 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 reviewing the material and your previous exam
before trying again).
- Remember that each Unit Proctored Exam counts
15 points toward your course grade (your best score will be scaled to
15 points).
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 by the target 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 use
the Help link at any time if you are unsure of the correct syntax
for your answer.
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.
Deadline Policy:
- You cannot take a Pretest or Proctored Exam
after the unit deadline has passed. Here is
the Deadline policy:
- 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 the unit 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:
- I will consider an exception if you have a serious
verifiable long-term illness or family emergency which will heavily
impact your ability to continue on schedule in the class.
- I will also consider exceptions if we have an operational
problem with our lab and/or testing system which prevents you from
meeting a deadline.
Reviewing
your records
and old exams:
- You can review your records and old exams at
any time using the View
Past Results link on the testing web
site.
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