How do
I Take Online Exams in Self-Paced Math 141-142?
Enter the testing web site
for
Math
141 or Math 142
(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 Enterprise Diploma, abbrieviated
EDU (links 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 instructions 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 for Math 141 or Math 142, depending on which course you are in. The
links on the left side of the screen will take you to the different parts of the
testing system.
- Create a user record
in Math 141 or Math 142, depending on
which course you are in. Fill in the information in the form that appears via the
above link. Please be accurate.
- 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.
- 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. In particular, do not add
"degrees" or "radians" 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? 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 View Past Results link on
the testing web site for Math 141 or Math 142.
Important rules:
- Deadlines: 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.
- 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 all exams except on unit 1.
- 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 deadline date. Your best score will be counted. You may also
retake a proctored exam if you wish, subject to the rule given below, and again your
best score will be counted. However, it is really better and more convenient to use
the pretest and practice 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 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 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 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 View Past Results link for Math 141 or Math 142.
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.
- Math 141-142:
- Math 142 only:
self-paced
Math 141-142 home page