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Exams

There is no midterm exam. Information about the final exam (which counts for 30% of the final grade) is given below.

Video [Course Briefing Video] Final Exam (10 minutes)

Exam admin info to note

  1. Schedule/venue: The final exam will be as per the normal exam schedule, which will be sent to you by the Registrar's Office (or you can find via EduRec -> Academics -> Exams -> View exam schedule). You can find the date/time from NUSMODS as well.

  2. Scope:

    • All topics in the textbook, excluding level 4 topics (i.e., optional topics), are examinable. For your convenience, you can view the examinable portion of the textbook in this printable view of the textbook (same as the PDF version of the textbook provided to you).
    • In addition, you are expected to be aware of SE-related things (i.e., tools, techniques, concepts) encountered while dong the iP and the tP e.g., Was testing technique X used in the tP?.
      That is, you are expected to strengthen your SE knowledge (not just hands-on skills) as you do the course projects -- in particular, to be able to connect theory to practice.

  3. Mode: F2F, using Examplify. You need to bring your own device (iPads not suitable), which can connect to the NUS Wi-Fi network.
    Please use these resources if you haven't used Examplify in the recent past (the behavior may be different from the version you used last semester):

    • See NUS Guides on Examplify.
    • Try a few practice exams provided in the above link.
    • Write to NUS CIT (citbox25@nus.edu.sg) if you run into any technical issues.
    • If you do not have a working laptop for the exam, please contact IT Care itcare@nus.edu.sg directly for a laptop loan (for exam purpose only).

  4. Examplify will use the full simulated lock-down mode during the exam i.e., no access Internet, and, not allowed to access any applications/files in your computer during the exam except the Exam Reference PDF file.
    Reason: Because of the risk of locally-installed LLMs affecting the integrity of the exam, NUS recommends using full-lockdown mode.

  5. Consider this as a 'cheat-sheet' exam, as that matches the nature of the questions in this exam the best. However, you will have the following additional flexibilities:

    • No limit on cheat-sheet page count. You may bring any number of pages, and use any written/printed documents. For example, you may bring a printed copy of the entire textbook.
    • An exam reference PDF file will be available in Canvas, containing the full textbook, the UML reference sheet, and the coding standard. You may open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader or the Mac Preview app (not allowed to use other PDF readers) ().
      Some Mac users have reported an issue with the Acrobat Reader -- hence, using the Mac Preview app to view the Exam Reference PDF will be allowed as well.
      When using either of the two PDF 'allowed' viewers, limit your usage to viewing, navigating, and simple search only. Do not use any AI-like features provided by the PDF tool.

  6. You need to check the exam-compatibility of your device early (as given in the panel below) -- even if you have used Examplify for other exams before, as the Examplify behaviour varies based on the specific exam configuration -- and work with NUS CIT to resolve any issues you encounter.

How to check the compatibility of your device

  • Ensure you have Examplify installed in your exam device.

  • / Windows/Linux users: Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your exam device -- no other PDF software allowed during the exam.
    Mac users: You may use the Preview app that comes with macOS or the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    Windows users: When downloading the Adobe Acrobat fifinstaller, you may want to opt out of installing additional bundled software (e.g., McAfee Virus Scanner) -- this option is given when downloading, not when installing.

  • Download the mock exam we have provided. It has only three dummy questions, for you to get familiar with the exam mode.

  • Do the mock exam (password: Hello123).
    Confirm you are able to open/resize/navigate the PDF file we have provided as an attachment inside Examplify (this file can be accessed via the EXAM CONTROLS menu in the Examplify UI).In the mock exam, this PDF file contains just a single page with some dummy content.

Deadline to complete the compatibility check (including liaising with CIT): at least 10 days before the exam

  1. You are not required to record the screen. Doing so can cause problems (lag, crashes, lockout etc.).
  2. Download all parts of the exam before you come to the exam (i.e., parts 1, 2). We'll give you the password for opening each part at the exam, at the starting time of each part.
    You will be notified when they are ready for download (typically, around 24 hours before the exam start time).
  3. If you have a doubt/query about a question, or want to make an assumption about a question, please write it down in the 'NOTES' text box. Do not try to communicate those with the invigilator during the exam. (reason: at an exam of this scale, it is not practical to clarify such doubts on-the-spot on a timely manner). We'll take your doubt/query/assumption into account when grading. For example, if many had queries about a specific question, we can conclude that the question is unclear and omit it from grading.

Submitting doubts/assumptions/feedback for a question:

  1. Click on TOOL KIT.

  2. Click on the NOTES tab, if it is not selected already.

  3. Type in your doubt/assumption/query/feedback in the text box. e.g.,

    Doubt: is there an error in this diagram?

    Assumption: no other entities are involved in this interaction.

  4. Tick the REQUEST FEEDBACK checkbox. If you don't, the note will not be saved!!!

  1. Bring your computer fully charged, although some charging points will be available at the exam venue (so, bring the charger too).
    NUS does not allow local LLMs in the exam device. Please uninstall such tools before the exam.

FAQ My laptop battery is weak. Can I be put in a seat near a charging point?

  1. You must start the exam within 5 minutes of receiving the password.

Structure/format

  • The exam will be divided into 2 parts.
  • Although the official duration of the exam is 1.5 hours, note that the actual exam might take up to 2 hours (due to technical issues). So, please don't schedule anything important right after the exam.

Final exam - part 1

  • You will be asked to draw some UML diagrams, to be hand-drawn on paper (not on a tablet).
    You may use pencils if you wish.
  • Duration: 20 minutes
  • The questions will be in Examplify.
  • Bring 1-2 sheets of A4 size papers when you come to the exam, for drawing these diagrams.
  • These diagrams will not be graded directly. Instead, you will use them when answering part 2 of the exam.
    However, we may use the diagrams to give some consolation marks should you score very low in the corresponding MCQ questions.
    For that purpose, the papers will be collected at the end of the full exam (i.e., after part 2 is over).

Final exam - part 2

  • A quiz containing 32 MCQ questions. All questions are estimated to be equal size/difficulty.
  • You only need to answer 30 questions correctly to get full marks. The extra two questions are a cushion against careless mistakes or misinterpreting a question.
  • Questions will appear in random order.
  • You will not be able to go back to previous questions.

FAQ WHAT? Why aren't we allowed to go back to previous questions?

  • Duration: 70 minutes (recommended: allocate 2 minutes per question, which gives you a 6-minute buffer)
  • Most MCQ question have a short-answer follow-up question.
  • Given below is an example question. The answer is a and the answer to the follow-up question can be OOP is only one of the choices for an SE project.

Sample question 1

Choose the incorrect statement.

Why is it incorrect? ______

  • Here is another example question. Note the [SELECT ALL] at the start of the question text, which tells you that this question can have multiple correct answers, and you need to select all of them i.e., it is a checkbox type question
    The answer is C, D.

Sample question 2

[SELECT ALL] Which of these are UML diagrams depicting behavior (as opposed to structure)?.

A. Class diagrams.
B. Object diagrams.
C. Activity diagrams.
D. Sequence diagrams.
E. Gantt charts.

  • Some Part 2 questions will be based on the UML diagrams you drew in Part 1. In case you need to refer back to Part 1 questions, they will be provided as a PDF attachment in Part 2.

Exam preparation resources

The following exam resources will be available from the start of week 13.

Video [Course Briefing Video] Final Exam (10 minutes)

  • A mock exam (consisting of just a few questions), via Examplify. You can use it to get familiar with the quiz format that will be used for the final exam. Password: Hello123
    Model answers are in Canvas/files/handouts.
  • A practice exam of same format/length/difficulty as the actual exam will be available at least one week before the exam.
    You can use it to practice your timing/pace. Multiple attempts are allowed.
    • Recommended:
      • Watch the exam briefing video and finish studying the topics before you attempt the practice exam, to get its full benefit.
      • Do the mock exam (to get used to the software and question structure) before the practice exam.
    • Where to find it: on Examplify.
      • Part 1: Password Hello123 (Resume code: B5FCD8)
      • Part 2: Password Hello123 (Resume code: BD097F)
    • Model answers are available on Canvas/files/handouts.
  • Some extra practice questions for exam part 1 are in Canvas/files/handouts -- look for the file Additional practice questions for part 1.pdf
  • UML Worked Examples that you previously encountered (also given in the panel below) too are a suitable tool to prepare for the exam. For example, you can watch the first few minutes to see the code that will the basis for the diagram, then draw the diagram yourself, and watch the remainder of the video to compare your answer to the model answer.

UML Worked Examples

  • All weekly quizzes will be reopened on Canvas Quizzes. You can retake them to self-test your knowledge (note: retaking them will not affect participation marks).
  • Recordings of all tutorial Zoom sessions should be available in a file named Recordings.docx inside your tutorial group's MS Team (in the 'Files' section). Remind your tutor to update that file if recording links are missing.
  • Recordings of all weekly briefings are available on the Canvas home page.
  • The Topics Overview video given below explains how course topics fit into a big picture, and as a bonus, touches on some exam-like questions as well.
Video [Course Briefing Video] Topics overview + some exam-like questions (19 mins)

  • PDF files useful for the exam (given in Canvas/files/handouts):
    • Exam Reference PDF
    • Topics infographic (shows how the various topics fit into the big picture)
  • Forum questions useful for exam preparations are listed here (marked with the label suitableForExamPrep).
    You are strongly encouraged to join those discussions -- it will help with exam prep, and earn you forum participation credit as well.

FAQ Can we have more past year papers and model answers?


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