---

• FINAL EXAM:

  Thursday, Sept. 20 (Week 11)
  6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. (evening)
  Room:   AB 2-225 (The "Cribathon")

  Recall that students are to take the final exam at the scheduled time. Sorry, but wishing to leave campus early does not constitute a legitimate, unavoidable conflict. See the Final Exam Policy.

  It is your responsibility to check for scheduling conflicts with other final exams and resolve them immediately.

  If another instructor reschedules one of your final exams and causes a scheduling conflict, then it is that instructor's responsibility to accommodate you to avoid the conflict.

  ---

  EXAM CONTENT:  The final exam will be comprehensive (it may include anything we've covered this term).

  • Please visit the restroom BEFORE the exam begins. (It IS an exam, so students should not leave the examination room unless absolutely necessary.)

  • The format will be similar to that of the in-class exams.

  • The final exam will be roughly the length of two regular exams.

  • Recall that the final exam is worth 30% of your course grade.

  • Please do NOT ask me any questions during the final exam. I will not answer them.

  • Calculators are NOT allowed during the final exam.

  • All electronics must be completely powered down and stowed before the exam begins.

  • No audio devices (headphones, earbuds, MP3 players, etc.) are permitted during the exam.

  ---

  Advice for improved test-taking:

  • Use correct notation AT ALL TIMES and use the Equal Sign (=) correctly.

  • Show all your formulas and all your work.
    Consider this simple truth:   the exam is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and mastery of the material. Some students believe that skipping steps impresses faculty. On the contrary, showing your steps in a clear, systematic, and legible manner impresses faculty. If you make an error but show your work clearly, you will likely get more partial credit. If you make an error but show few steps, you may get very little partial credit. Rule of Thumb: When in doubt, show steps. When not in doubt, show steps.

  • Work the problem using the method stated . . .
    in the problem and using the method as it was presented in class. For example, if a problem says to use a particular method, then that problem is specifically testing you on that method. Using a different method will result in substantial point loss or no credit at all on that problem. A problem that states "Use polar coordinates to . . ." means that you must use polar coordinates to do that problem.

  • The exam is not a race.
    Work at a pace that helps reduce your chance of making errors. If you finish the exam with time remaining, then STAY! — take a few moments to relax, then carefully check your work on each problem. Also make sure that you answered all questions being asked, included units where required, circled your answer to each problem, etc. Your goal is not to leave as soon as possible.

  • If a problem involves units, . . .
    then be sure to state any results with units that are appropriate for the result.

  • Circle your answer to each problem.
    It might surprise you to know how many students can do the steps in a problem, even correctly, but still not know what it is we're trying to find. So I require you to circle your answer because I am checking to see if you really understand what it is you're seeking.

Return to main index