Exams
Information
on exam will be posted here as they approach. In general, they are all
open-book, open-notes. The only things you can't use are laptops, cell
phones and other stuff like that.
Final Exam
Final Exam Results:
Comments:
The final exam looked to be a bit tougher as I thought it might be.
Mostly because there was a "differentiator" question on the exam
(problem 8) that required you to go a bit beyond what you did for
homework of the projects. This problem is even more than is asked on
the P.E. exam. I will say that there were a significant number of folks
who got all or most of it right. Otherwise, I am pleased with the
results of the final as a whole.
The final exam is
comprehensive (fortunately, you get to display your prowess and mastery
of stuff we covered in April). Expect something like a midterm-length
coverage of the 2nd half of the course plus a couple of questions from
the first half. I would say 7-9 questions total. The same "basic
information" for the midterm applies to the final (open-book,
open-note, you still have to study, etc.).
Example final (the 2006 final exam)
Midterm
Midterm Results:
Example Midterm (the 2006 midterm)
Some basic information on the midterm.
- Format. The midterm format will be open-book, open-notes.
- Question types.
There will be a page of short answer or short calculation problems. At
least one will be from the "other readings". It will be easy enough
that if you actually read it, you will be able to answer the question.
You did abstracts on two readings but you need to read them all. There
will also be 3 to 5 other problems that require you to work out
solutions and show your work.
- Bring your textbook.
I will expect you to have your textbook with you because you will need
the tables in it to figure some things out (such as the vertical curve
design tables). I do not have any extra textbooks, so you really need
to bring one.
- Other material.
It is an open-book, open-note test so you can bring your notes, etc.
However, please be respectful of other's space. You will likely want to
bring your Horizontal curve design table and WSDOT pavement design
tables too. If a problem requires you to use them, I will provide the
appropriate table, but you may want to bring your own since it may have
some of your notes on it.
- Advice on time.
It's an open-book, open-note test so, conceivably, if you didn't study
you could figure everything out during the test. If you use this
approach, you will run out of time and not complete the test.
There is simply not enough time to "learn" stuff during the test. So,
studying really does pay off. At least, that's been my experience.
- Other advice.
Please, write something down for each answer. Lisette and I really do
want to give you partial credit. We also carry your error forward: if
you make an early error in your calculations, you only lose credit for
that error; subsequent stuff you do with that original wrong answer can
receive full credit. Thus, it is possible to get an answer horribly
wrong and still get most of the credit. If you notice your answer is
horribly wrong but cannot fix it, stating so may help you a bit because
at least you demonstrate a feel for typical answers.
