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Exam Overview

The pages below should provide all of the information you need to prepare for and take the exams. Please read through all of these pages before asking questions on piazza, we want to keep the information consolidated instead of scattered across Piazza.

Quick Exam Summary:

  • Exam duration:
    The exam will last x hours (3–4 hours, announced on the release day). You’ll have several days to start the exam. Once started, your attempt ends either:
  • when the x hour window expires, or
  • when the overall deadline passes, whichever comes first
  • Submissions:
  • You may submit an unlimited number of times during your attempt.
  • Submit after each exercise — expect at least 5–10 submissions.
  • This works like the notebooks but under the timed window.
  • Submissions may take a couple of minutes to grade, but they should complete within 5 minutes, or timeout. In rare cases there can be server delay, but all submissions will be saved and graded.
  • The exam is proctored (Honorlock or Proctortrack). You can test your setup using the practice proctortrack exam found in your LMS 2 weeks before the first exam
  • It is: open-book, open-note, and open-internet. No bots are allowed (like ChatGPT or Copilot), but you can use the outputs of searches in modern search engines (see: AI Use Policy)
  • No collaboration (peers or online requests for help)
  • Single device only: You may only use one computer/device with one monitor. Prohibited:
    • Second screens, tablets, iPads, or other devices
    • Additional keyboards or mice
    • Any device other than the one you're taking the exam on
    • The recording must show all keyboard and mouse usage
  • Copy/paste is disabled. The exam time cap will factor this in.
  • Technical issues: If you experience a technical issue during the exam:
    • Follow the troubleshooting pages below first
    • File a bug report on Piazza using the template here
    • Keep working - don't stop taking the exam
    • Note: Most reported issues are resolved through simple troubleshooting

For full details and FAQ, please refer to the pages below. You may always want to review the syllabus

We will not be answering questions about exam policies until the first set of practice problems are released. Everything you need to know should be covered above, or in the below pages. We created those (especially the FAQ) based on questions asked in past runs of this class. We don't want to leave you in suspense, we just want to wait until it's closer to exam time so we can centralize the discussion.

Important pages:

Exam Guide/Wiki: Full exam guide, including how grading works, grading policy, and when & how to ask for help

Exam Rules: What is allowed and what is not allowed

Exam Prep: Notes and tips related to preparing for the exam

Exam Rules - FAQ: Commonly asked questions related to the rules

Exam Practice Problems: General information, solutions, and TA walkthroughs for the practice exams (released when the practice exam assignment becomes available in your LMS)

Exam release notes: Exam duration, number of exercises, score cap (released shortly before the exam opens)

We understand that there is a lot of information here, but we want to be as thorough as possible. The goal is to explain the exams thoroughly enough that you can go back to focusing on the actual content and learning.

Other useful pages:

Vocareum Troubleshooting

Platform and Proctoring Troubleshooting

Templates for reporting bugs and platform issues on Piazza

List of Vocareum Installed Packages/Modules