Exams and grading, TAM 203, Spring 2006

The prelims and final exam are closed book, no notes, no calculators. Prelims are designed for completion in 90 minutes but will allow extra time to eliminate time pressure. No extra time on the final exam (University policy).

Homework exam: If you can do all the homework you are guaranteed a grade of C via the optional homework exam on May 9 from 1-5 PM in Thurston 204. On it will be 4 problems which will be homework problems, or parts of homework problems, with slight changes so that memorizing answers won't help. If you can do 3 of them fully correctly (good work, correct answer) in 4 hours you are guaranteed a grade of at least C. Prior email permission required to take this exam.

Warning: In a past experiment very few students who said "I can do the homework, I just can't do the exams." could actually do the homework, perhaps because of not following the advice in the first 3 sentences of the "study advice" on the homework page.

Prelim Schedule

Prelim 1: Tuesday 28-Feb-06, 7:30-9:00+ PM, Ohlin 155. Three questions. Covers through lecture of Feb 21. Solution (updated March 1, 06)
Prelim 2: Tuesday 18-Apr-06, 7:30-9:00+ PM, Hollister B14, overflow to Hollister 110. Three questions. Comprehensive through lecture content listed for April 11. Solution.
Early makeup prelims for those with conflicts: 4:30 PM, same day, with prior email permission.You must stay in the exam room from 4:30 until 7:30, bring food (we will give you a note excusing you for lateness to your next test). Thurston 204.
Makeup prelim: For students who missed both a prelim its early makeup, there will be a comprehensive makeup exam at the same time and place as the early final (below). Students taking this exam must take the regularly scheduled Final exam.

Regrades: If you think one of your prelims was graded inappropriately:  1) Don't write anything on your exam booklet. 2) Make sure you know how to do the problem correctly. 3) Show your issue to a TA or Prof in the course to see if they think you might have a point.  4) Write an essay about why you should get more points, if it helps mark up a photocopy of your work.  5) Give your book with the essay to your TA.

Final Exam (comprehensive). Friday, May 19, 2-4:30. Rockefeller Schwarz auditorium. 5 questions. On average the questons will be no longer than the problems on the prelims. No extra time. Most categories below will be represented. Solutions.

1) A statics structure or mechanism problem.
2) A problem very similar to a problem already on a prelim.
3) A problem very similar to a homework problem.
4) A text problem that was not assigned.
5) A sample problem in the book.
6) Something related to one of the labs, possibly not in the homework.

Optionally there is an early final exam Monday May 15, 9-11:30 AM, with prior email permission from your TA. Ohlin 155. No other Final makeup is planned. The prelim makeups are simultaneous with this exam.

Final grade: After rescaling the 3 problems from prelim 1 to a common median, and the 3 problems from prelim 2 to a slightly higher common median, the lowest score from the 6 prelim questions will be dropped. Together the best 5 prelim question scores count for about 40% of your grade. The final homeworks count slightly more than the earlier homeworks. After dropping the lowest two homeork grades the homework will count as about 10% of your grade. The final exam counts about 35%, and the labs about 15%. TAs can add a few points for good section, office hour, or bonus project performance. One bonus point (1%) for completing a course evaluation form. The median student will get a B or B+ depending on overall class performance.