Instructions for Midterm 1 & Answer Sheet

When & where should I take the exam?

You will be able to take the exam starting at Wednesday March 5th at 9:00am ET, and all exams (including SDAC) should be turned in by Wednesday March 5th 12:30 pm ET.
The allotted time for the exam is 90 minutes. The intention is to have 75 minutes to take the exam and about 15 minutes can be use for the upload of the exam. The 90 minutes then includes your upload time.

This means that if you start taking the exam at 9:00 am, you must have uploaded it by 10:30am.
It also means that if you have 90 minutes, the latest you can take the exam would be 11:00am ET.
People with SDAC accommodations will have an “SDAC Exam” tab with their allotted time.
Only people with SDAC accommodations can use this exam.

Since this is a take-home exam, you can take it from wherever you like. We recommend you take it in a space in which you can concentrate.

The exam is an individual assignment. This means that you should not consult your peers about clarifications or any questions (exam or non-exam related) during the period that you are taking them exam.
We also ask that you don’t share details about the exam with others who have not yet taken the exam whether that is verbally or in writing. With the flexibility of these rules, there are many “clever” ways to get around policies. Still, as graduate students, I believe y’all get the point of what we are trying to do here, so any perceived version of misconduct will be dealt with under the honor code.
You are welcome to access a cheat-sheet of A4 size, front and back. A4 is the most common page size but if you need accurate measurements it is 8.27 x 11.69 inches.
You cannot access internet or any form of AI.
You are welcome to use calculators.
Overall, our intention is trying to replicate taking the exam in class, with a cheat-sheet and a calculator. We are choosing to give flexibility, so we ask in return for compliance with these instructions.

You will upload your answers to Gradescope. For this you’ll need a PDF or image version of your answers.
You can re-submit the exam as many times as you want before your 90 minutes are up.
Answer sheet: The link for the answer sheet for you to download will be here.
Once you have uploaded the answer sheet, Gradescope will ask you to pair questions to where they are in your files. Select the question, and then select where it is in your file (just selecting the page will suffice). You also don’t have to do this step, but it’s helpful on our end!
In Gradescope, we’ve created a “trial” exam assignment, in which you can practice uploading your answer sheet. Please practice with this before submitting the exam.
Whether you are using an electronic or printed version, I recommend experimenting with the methods of creating a PDF that you will use to upload before the exam so you can iron out details beforehand. Here are some recs:
Electronic version:

There are many ways to write on a pdf. If you are using your computer, there are paid software like adobe acrobat and some free software with limited capabilities.
If you are using a tablet, there are many software options on how to “write” on the pdf (Notability, Goodnotes, GoodReader, etc.)
Whichever tool you are using, make sure that the PDF you are uploading has a visible answer. Some of the software above produces an empty PDF when exporting.

If you use a printed version, write on legible and visible ink or pencils. Light pencils may not be visible when scanned.
Fill out your answers as you would do in a normal exam.
In order to “scan” your printer answer sheet, there are many options: (1) you can use a scanner, or (2) you can use your phone.

There are many ways to access scanners: the library has access to them, Batten has access to them and even private places like FedEx. If you are going this route, I highly recommend you figure out the process of scanning before using this for the first time. It may take some time.
If you are using your phone, there are many options:

The exam will have a place to upload your pics or pdf. We recommend you using the PDF option. If you need more of a walkthrough beforehand, here is a video:

If you have questions about the exam during the exam, you should email: Sanny, Mike and and Prof. Tello Trillo at the same time and ask your question. Hopefully, one of us could answer your email promptly, but we make no promises on getting back to you on time.

Don’t rely on your cheat sheet to find answers, this could take a significant amount of time. The exam is not design for you to consult your notes and then answer questions. The exam is time constraint, so it is more designed to be a test of write what you think and move on.
Having access to more information could make you “overthink” answers, so be careful with the information overload.
If you don’t know how to set up a question, move on, and come back.
Tackling multiple choice first may be a wise strategy, but some MC requires knowing the set-up of a question first.
This is just an exam, nothing more and nothing else. The outcomes will not change your life, and is not a reflection of you as a person. When you are 90 years old, this exam will carry no meaning in your life. Just do what you think is your best and that is the best to do.