Some Meta-Skills: --- How to Tackle Written Exams
Keep a clean desk/tablet: Only the exam, your one page of notes, and writing implements are allowed.
Put all electronic devices into your backpack -- out of reach.
READ THE INSTRUCTION PAGE TWICE;
-- and make sure you understand what it says !
-- sign it!
READ EVERY QUESTION THREE TIMES:
- Find out what the question is all about.
- Ask yourself why the Prof. is asking this question -- what concept s/he is probably wanting to test.
- Read the fine details and specifications -- and follow them !
Also, in my exams, where you cannot ask any questions (-- as on SAT's, GRE's etc.),
state your assumptions, but don't make assumptions purely for your convenience ...
E.g.: If, in a problem concerning barycentric coordinates, I
wanted to make things easy for you by having a+b+c=1, I would have said
so;
thus you must assume that these parameters are NOT normalized, and take care of it yourself.
On the other hand, don't make things more complicated than they need be.
E.g.: If I specifya sweep but don't give any twist or azimuth information,
you may safely assume a rotation-minimizing frame (RMF).
Make sure that I know what your answer is, don't burry it in a lot of random text!
Check your arithmetic and your signs.
Page Editor: Carlo H. Séquin