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Taking the Exam

This guide covers the technical aspects of taking exams: how grading works, proctoring setup, debugging strategies, and how to get help. Keep this page handy during exams as your technical reference.

For exam rules and policies, see Exam Rules & Policies.

ESSENTIAL: Submit After Every Exercise

Critical

Submit after every exercise. Every time you submit, the Autograder runs and adds points to your total. This locks in your points and prevents losing everything if you run out of time.

  • You can move on to the next exercise while it runs
  • Check to make sure your points are there
  • If you don't get points, return to the exercise while it's still fresh
  • There is no reason not to submit after each exercise

Comment Out Print Statements

Comment out print statements before submitting. Leaving in large print statements can dramatically slow down your code or crash the kernel completely. You will not be compensated for correct solutions that fail due to excessive printed output.

Grading

Summary: Submit after every exercise and confirm the autograder awarded you points.

Exam grading works like notebooks, but with a much shorter submission window. Once your test ends, it ends - no exceptions.

Scoring Cap

Your score is calculated as [points earned] / [scoring cap]. You may not need to complete all exercises for 100%.

Example: 18 possible points, 15 point cap → earning 12 points = 80% (12/15). No extra credit for exceeding the cap.

Demo Code

Each exercise has demo code (usually below your solution area) that runs your code against sample data. Use this for quick checks and obvious errors.

Testing Cells

Testing cells run multiple randomized test cases. Focus on the message and the input/output variables provided - use these to debug, not the test code itself.

Autograder

The Autograder is the final arbiter of grades. It runs your code in a clean environment, top to bottom, similar to restarting the kernel.

Key differences from interactive mode:

  • Clean environment: Installed/updated packages won't carry over (importing is fine, installing is not)
  • Error handling: If one exercise errors, it skips and continues - you can fail ex2 but still get credit for ex0, ex1, ex3
  • Time limit: Lower than interactive mode - code that runs in Jupyter may timeout in the Autograder

Autograder Timeout

"The process runtime may have reached the allocated threshold of x second(s)"

If the Autograder times out, you receive no credit for that submission. The grade report will show this message and the grade card won't update. This is why you must submit after every exercise - if you only submit at the end, you risk getting 0 points.

Manual Grading

We do not do manual grading under any circumstances. If you believe your code failed due to a bug, see "Reporting Possible Bugs" below.

Partial Credit

We do not grant partial credit for exercises.

Proctoring Setup

Your exam is proctored using Honorlock (GT MSA/OMSA) or Proctortrack (edX VMM).

What Proctoring Does

  • Quick scan of your room (not always)
  • Records your webcam
  • Records your screen
  • Confirms single monitor usage
  • May perform other simple setup checks

Testing Your Setup

Go to the practice proctored exam in your LMS and start it. If proctoring starts and you can see the exam, your setup is good.

For edX VMM students: The system only lets you start the exam once. To test again, make a private Piazza post with your edX username requesting a reset.

Browser Requirements

Section Browser Notes
GT MSA/OMSA Chrome required for Honorlock May have other browsers open
edX VMM Any Proctortrack-compatible browser Have a backup browser ready

Proctoring Troubleshooting

Environment & Software

Pre-installed Packages

You may import any packages already installed in Vocareum. See the full list of installed packages.

Installing packages is NOT allowed. Vocareum lets you install them, but they won't work in the autograder.

If working locally, your environment may differ from Vocareum. Test your code in Vocareum before submitting.

Using a Local IDE

You're welcome to work locally, but we don't officially support it. With copy/paste disabled, you'd have to manually re-type code into Vocareum. We strongly recommend using Vocareum directly.

If you insist on local development:

  • Package versions may differ
  • Code must pass the Vocareum Autograder
  • "It ran locally" is not an exception

Debugging

  • Test cells run your solution on many randomly generated test cases
  • Test case variables (inputs, expected outputs, your outputs) are available after running test cells - use these to debug
  • Visual comparison isn't enough - if the code says they're different, they probably are
    • Try diffchecker.com to find differences
    • For numbers, subtract one from the other - if not zero, they're not equal
  • Read the entire traceback when errors occur
  • Assume the test is bug-free and continue working. Submit a bug report if you have good reason, but don't spend more than a few minutes on it
    • The later you take the exam (after hundreds of students), the less likely you've found a bug
    • Most bugs are identified within 24 hours of the exam window opening

Getting Support from TAs

  • Contact TAs via private Piazza post to Instructors - include your email and relevant info
  • Piazza is the only valid communication method
  • TAs CAN help with: Platform issues, bug inquiries
  • TAs CANNOT help with: Exam content, debugging assistance, clarifying problem statements

TA availability: 8am - 11pm Eastern Time. Issues outside these hours will be addressed when TAs come on duty.

Issue Workflow

Troubleshoot → Document → Continue Working

  1. Troubleshoot: Follow steps in Vocareum Troubleshooting or Proctoring Troubleshooting, plus any exam release notes
  2. Document: File a report (see templates below) - don't spend more than 5 minutes
  3. Continue working: Don't wait for a response

Reporting Issues

Platform Issue Template

Use for Vocareum outages, proctoring service issues, etc. Spend less than 1 minute on this.

Note

Copy/paste is disabled - just type the key info quickly into a Piazza post.

- Email/username:
- Issue: [vocareum outage / proctoring outage / other - explain]
- Time started: [include timezone]
- Steps tried: [list troubleshooting steps and results]
- Need additional time? [yes/no]

If resolved before TA reply:
- Time resolved: [include timezone]
- Additional notes:

Potential Bug Template

Before Reporting

We thoroughly test exams before release. The overwhelming majority of reported "bugs" are issues with student solutions. We investigate all reports, but if it's your code, we'll explain after the exam window closes.

Before submitting:

  1. Check your output against expected output using test case variables
  2. Submit your work - this gives us a snapshot to reproduce the issue
  3. Make a private Piazza post
  4. Continue working - don't wait for a response
- Email/username:
- Exercise number:
- Explanation: [what's happening, what should happen, why you believe your code is correct]
- Screenshot: [attach]

Missed Exams

If you miss an exam due to misunderstanding the window or length, you receive a 0. We cannot extend windows or offer alternative assignments.

GT MSA/OMSA Students

If you have compelling, documented justification (medical condition, family emergency):

  1. Contact the Division of Student Life to document your situation
  2. They will reach out to us with confirmation
  3. You may be eligible for an Incomplete grade
  4. To resolve, you'd take the equivalent exam in a future semester

Per GT policy, incompletes are for "small" amounts of missed work. More severe circumstances may require withdrawal.

edX VMM Students

If you have compelling, documented justification:

  1. Contact edX support and explain your situation
  2. They will coordinate with instructors
  3. edX may offer free re-enrollment in a future semester
  4. Progress transfer is at the discretion of 6040 staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Grading

  1. When/where will my grade be posted? - Vocareum is the source of truth. If you see points in the "Grades" pane, we have them. LMS grades (Canvas/edX) update after the window closes.

  2. How many times can I submit? - Unlimited. Submit after each exercise.

  3. My code passes in the notebook but fails when I submit - Your solution must pass the Autograder. See the Autograder section above.

  4. Can I get manual grading? - No. See "Manual Grading" above.

  5. Can I get partial credit? - No.

Proctoring

  1. How do I show my room to the proctoring software? - Rotate the camera or use a mirror.

  2. What's the best time to take the exam for TA availability? - TAs are available 8am-11pm Eastern. You can take the exam outside those hours, but issues will be addressed when TAs come on duty.

Support

  1. What if I need help during the exam? - See "Getting Support from TAs" above. Do NOT make public posts about exam material.

  2. Can I reach staff outside Piazza? - No. Piazza is the only monitored platform.

Other Resources