How do
I Take Online Exams in Math 25?
Enter the testing web site
for
Math
25
(but first read about the testing system
below)
Using the computer testing system
Testing for the exams in this course is done at a special web
server named PHGradeAssist, abbrieviated PHGA (link given at the top of this page). You can check your scores, review
previous exams, and take Pretests and Practice Exams from any computer
you want, using any web browser. You must take the Proctored Exams in the
presence of a designated proctor (see the proctored
exam instructions for details). The Practice Exams
are especially useful for reviewing material for the final exams. The final exams
themselves are also online Proctored Exams.
Learning how to use the testing system:
- If you have not done so already, you must first register on the online testing system.
- Now go to the testing web site. The links on the left
side of the screen will take you to the different parts of the testing system.
- Read the material
below and read the Math Syntax page.
- Try the Online Testing Practice assignment. This assignment will quiz you on the various question
types used in PHGA and on some of the course rules. Take
this exam as many times as you need to get all or most of the questions correct.
This exam does not count for any credit, but it will help you learn how the testing
system works and help you avoid problems in the future.
- Now you are ready to move on to Unit 1. Follow the instructions given in the Study Guidelines for Unit 1, and then in the Unit
1 Exam Description.
- If the testing system doesn't seem to work correctly for you,
be sure to consult the Technical
Notes page.
PHGA Question Types and Syntax
PHGA has a number of different question types. While some questions
are multiple choice, most of them are "free response" with an answer box
for you to type in your answer. For the most part, you can enter your answer in "calculator
syntax", pretty much as you would on a graphing calculator. For more details,
you should read the Math Syntax page. This page is also accessible to you during the tests. Look for
the link underneath each answer box. Most of what you need to know is mentioned in
that page.
There are a few additional things I would like to point out:
- Remember to look under the entry box for the description
of the expected format of the answer. If you are not sure of the correct syntax,
click on the math syntax link which is also located under the answer box.
- Use the Preview feature. On exam questions with an
answer box, the PREVIEW button will show you your answer in normal typeset notation.
This will help you put parentheses in the correct places, especially valuable for
answers involving quotients and formulas of functions. The Preview
button requires that your Java installation is up-to-date and enabled in your web
browser.
- There are two kinds of multiple choice questions: those that
take a single answer, and those that accept multiple answers. You can tell them apart
in three ways:
- The buttons have different shapes. However, the exact shape
depends on the type of web browser you use, and maybe even your preference settings.
- Try pushing a second button. If the first one pops out, this
is a question with a single answer.
- The problem may tell you whether one or several answers are
expected.
- Unless explicitly specified otherwise, all questions take
exact answers. If the answer is sqrt(2), then 1.41421 is not a correct answer, even if you type in 10 decimals.
- It never hurts to put in too many parentheses. It may
hurt you if you don't put in enough. PHGA evaluates your answer in order of
precedence; operators of equal precedence get evaluated left to right. The order
is (from highest to lowest):
- Exact answers vs. approximations: All answers must
be exact, unless you are specifically requested to give an approximation. If you
are asked to give an approximation, then your answer must be accurate to at least
the requested number of decimal places after the decimal point. For example, you
might be asked to provide an answer that is accurate to at least three digits.
In your corrected exam, you may see something like 1.41421356237
0.001. The symbol
means "plus or minus", so anything within 0.001 of the first number counts
as correct. Thus, for example, if you answered 1.414, or 1.4142, or 1.415, these would all be graded as correct.
- While we are on the subject of approximate numerical answers:
some word problems require you to find some intermediate results first. Make
sure you use enough decimals of accuracy for those. If you round some intermediate
value to two decimals, your final answer will not be correct to three decimals. You
should use at least four or five decimals for the intermediate calculations, to be
on the safe side.
- When it comes to typing in equations of curves, the
basic rule is: your answer must be a single equation which has the same graph
as the given correct answer. So, if the given answer is y=x+2, and
you type in y-x=2, that is correct. However, if the answer is x=y^2, and you type in y=sqrt(x),
that is wrong. The reason is that the graph of x=y^2 is a parabola, but the graph of y=sqrt(x) is the upper half of a parabola. You also cannot combine equations
(for example, an answer such as y=sqrt(x)
; y=-sqrt(x)
would be incorrect).
- Answers with units: You are probably used to adding units
(such as "meters" or "seconds") to the answers of application
problems. It is possible to design questions like that in PHGA, but it has caused
confusion in the past, so we have not used this feature. Therefore, do not add units to any of your answers. In particular, do not add
"degrees" or "radians" to any of your answers.
Other hints and information:
- How many questions? Each exam has between 16 and 25
questions, with a range of difficulty. Each unit exam description (for example, see
the Unit 1 exam description) gives more detailed information on that particular exam. When computing
final grades, each proctored unit exam will be rescaled to 15 points total, so they
all have equal weight. Each unit pretest will be rescaled to 5 points total.
- Which browser? You
will need access to a computer with an internet connection and one of the supported operating system / web browser combinations.
- Other operating system / web browser combinations may or may
not work.
- Most dialup internet service providers will probably work
fine, but the AOL internet service provider will NOT work with the testing system.
If you use AOL, you will need to subscribe to one of the other free or low-cost providers.
- Alternatively, you can of course use computers at CR if you
don't have your own computer and you come to CR frequently.
- Preview window: Remember to leave the
preview window open while you are taking an exam. That way the preview applet only
needs to load (a time-consuming process) once.
- Grading: Be
sure to always grade your pretests and exams. Your online
assignment is not complete until you have finished the grading process. If you leave
an assignment ungraded, then no score is recorded. In addition, you may be locked
out of any further online assignments.
- Security: Be sure to QUIT YOUR BROWSER when you are
done working within the testing system. Otherwise, you will remain "logged in"
to the testing system, and the next person to use the computer can assume your identity.
- System errors: The testing system is quite robust (in
particular, with a few rare exceptions, it never loses any work that you have already
done). However, there have been a few rare instances of glitches in the testing system,
caused by network or browser errors.
- On rare occasions in the past, answers have disappeared as a result of rapid
clicking on the Next or Back button. If you hit one of those buttons
after the top of the page has loaded, but before your previous answer has loaded,
that answer may disappear. So don't push the navigation buttons too fast.
- As with all web browsers, occasionally an image may not load. In this case, try
the Next and Back buttons - that will usually clear up the problem.
If the problem is persistent, then you will probably have to clear the cache on your
browser, quit and start it up again, and re-enter your exam (with your proctor's
help and permission).
- Once you enter an answer and then move on to the next question, your answer should
be saved.
- Occasionally the testing system may become confused and log you out of the exam.
But don't worry, your previous work will have been saved. If this happens, show your
proctor, and then simply log in to the exam again. You will be given a choice which
allows you to finish working on the old exam.
- If you get an error which ultimately causes you to miss a problem, please show
it to your proctor and have the proctor send me a confirming note about the problem.You
will probably just have to take the exam again, but at least I can give you a deadline
extension in this case.The point is that you need to do something right away when
this happens. You cannot come back a week later and tell me that you had a problem
on an earlier exam.
- Exam errors: I will pay
you one extra unit exam point if you find an error in one of the unit exams. This
means an error in the answer to one of the problems on either a pretest, a practice
exam, or a proctored exam. However, I will only pay the first person who finds the
error. Of course, even if you are not the first to report an error, I will certainly
give you back the point if you did the problem correctly on a proctored exam. Just
bring the exam in and show me, or send me an email detailing the exam and problem.
I will post all errors on the errors page, and each person in the class
can then check his or her own exam using the "View
Past Results" link on the testing web site.
- Technical problems: If the testing system doesn't seem
to work correctly for you, be sure to consult the Technical Notes page.
Instructions for Pretests:
Each unit includes a Unit Pretest which will help prepare you
for the proctored Unit Exam.
- You can complete the Pretests at the testing web site from anywhere on the
internet.
- These Pretests have the same time limit as the proctored Unit
Exam.
- You may repeat these Pretests as many times as you like (your
best score counts). The questions will change each time you repeat a Pretest.
- I recommend that you take several Pretests on each unit (preferably
on different days) before you try the actual proctored Unit Exam. Organize your work
in a notebook, with the Pretest dated and each problem numbered. After you take the
Pretest, you can print it out, check over each problem, and get help with the problems
that you missed. This is one of the best methods for preparing for the exams.
- A record of your Pretests is retained in the system. You can
then go back and look up any of your old Pretests, review which problems you missed,
etc. You will also have a record of your improvement as you repeat these Pretests.
- I can also look up your old Pretests, so if you have a question
about a particular problem, I can then look and see what the problem is and what
answer you entered.
- Remember that the Unit Pretest counts 5 points toward your
course grade (your best score will be scaled to 5 points).
Instructions for Proctored Exams:
Locations: We have arranged for proctored exams to be
taken at the following testing centers:
- Eureka campus: Academic Support Center in the library
(LRC).
The ASC's hours are:
- M-Th 8am-8:30pm, F 8am-4:00pm
- Del Norte campus: Academic Support Center.
The center's hours are given below, but you will need to make appointments in advance.
Please contact Barbara
Schneider to discuss testing arrangements (707-465-2330).
- M 8am-noon & 1pm-5:30pm, Tu 10am-noon & 1pm-7pm,
W 1pm-7pm, Th 8am-noon & 1pm-5:30pm, F 8am-noon & 1pm-5pm
- Mendocino campus: Academic Support Center.
The center's hours are given below, but you will need to make appointments in advance.
Please contact Josh
Edelman to discuss testing arrangements (707-962-2639).
- MTu 8:30am-noon & 1pm-4:30pm, WTh 8:30am-noon &
1pm-6:30pm, F 8:30am-11:30am
- Klamath-Trinity campus: computer lab (room 100C).
You will need to make appointments in advance. Contact DaVita Fraser to discuss testing arrangements
(530-625-4846).
- Students may also find an alternative exam proctor if necessary
(see the Proctor
Arrangements page for more details).
Instructions:
- At Eureka (all days) and Arcata (MWF), you do not need to
make an appointment. Just bring a picture ID and check in with the testing
center supervisor. You will also need to provide your PHGA login name to the supervisor.
- At Del Norte, Mendocino, Klamath-Trinitiy, and Arcata (TuTh),
you should make testing appointments in advance with the testing supervisor. Also,
remember to bring a picture ID.
- After you select your exam on your computer, the supervisor
will authorize the beginning of your exam, using the supervisor's computer.
- When you are done with your exam, notify the supervisor, and
he or she will authorize the grading of the exam. You will then be able to look at
all of the details of the graded exam. Be sure to complete
the grading process - don't leave your exam ungraded.
- Be sure to close your browser when you are done.
Rules:
- Just like all exams in other classes, you must not talk
with anyone else in the testing center during the exam. Any such violation
amounts to academic misconduct. Likewise, if you are in the testing center and
NOT taking an exam, do not attempt to talk to anyone who IS taking an exam.
- Work on the exam only, and no notes or books. While
taking the exam, you cannot consult books or notes, and you cannot use the computer
for anything other than the exam - in other words, no other applications or windows
may be open, except for the math
syntax window. You may work out problems on pencil
and paper, and calculators are allowed on all exams.
- If you need a restroom break while taking an exam, be sure
to ask the testing center supervisor.
- You can repeat the proctored unit exam as many times as you
want up until the deadline date (the best score counts), except that you must abide
by the following rule:
- You cannot take more than one proctored exam
on the same unit on the same day. The idea is that you
should spend some time reviewing the material and your previous exam before trying
again.
Note that no proctored
testing will be available until September 6.
My testing has shown that the PHGA testing system appears to
work fine in the ASC on the Eureka campus. If you have any trouble at any of the
various testing centers, please let me know.
In addition, some of the staff at the testing centers are new,
and are still learning about the testing system. Please be patient and cooperative
as they learn the system. Thanks!
Important rules:
- Deadlines: You cannot take
a pretest or proctored exam after the unit deadline has passed. Here
is the Deadline policy:
- Because this is a partially self-paced class, and you have lots of time to take
each exam, I will not grant any exceptions for illness, travel,
car breakdowns, etc. It is best not to wait until the last day to take the
unit exam, because you might not feel good that day, or you might get a flat tire,
etc. Plan ahead and take the exam on a day when you feel good and are ready for the
exam. On the other hand, there are a couple of exceptions to this "no exceptions"
rule. These will be decided on a case-by-case basis, but you must certainly contact
me promptly if you are in either of these situations:
- I will consider an exception if you have a serious verifiable long-term illness
or family emergency which will heavily impact your ability to continue on schedule
in the class.
- I will also consider exceptions if we have an operational problem with one of
our testing centers and/or the testing system which prevents you from meeting a deadline.
- Time limit: Different exams may have different time
limits, but most exams have a time limit of 60 minutes. In
general, most people complete the exams within 45 minutes.
- Work on the exam only, and no notes or books. While
taking a proctored exam, you cannot consult books or notes, and you cannot use the
computer for anything other than the exam - in other words, no other applications
or windows may be open, except for the math
syntax window. You may work out problems on pencil
and paper, and calculators are allowed on all exams.
- No talking! Just like all exams in other classes, you
must not talk with anyone else in the testing center during a proctored exam. Any
such violation amounts to academic misconduct. Likewise, if you are in the testing
center and NOT taking an exam, do not attempt to talk to anyone who IS taking an
exam.
- Abandoned exams: You cannot abandon
a proctored exam once you have started it. If you have left an exam ungraded, then
it will be graded "as is" the next time you come in to take an exam. (However,
if you just need a drink or a restroom break, ask the proctor.)
- Repeats: You may retake a pretest as many times as
you wish up until the deadline date. Your best score will be counted. You may also
retake a proctored exam if you wish, subject to the rule given below, and again your
best score will be counted. However, it is really better and more convenient to use
the pretest and practice exams to work out any problems you are having, and then
take the proctored exam. But in case you do have a bad day, you can retake the exam
subject to the following rule:
- You cannot take more than one proctored exam on
the same unit on any single day (the idea is that you should
spend some time going over your mistakes before trying again).
- Grade appeals: Computer grading
is quite rigid, and I know that can be a frustrating problem - sometimes questions
are missed just because of a syntax error, not a math error. To avoid these problems,
make sure that you do the following:
- Read the Unit Exam
Description before taking any exams on that unit (pretest,
practice, or proctored). You will be warned about any new types of syntax problems.
- Take several pretests before you take a proctored exam. Any problems
with syntax will almost certainly show up here, and you can then avoid them on the
proctored exam.
- Take the proctored exam by the target date. Then you will have
several chances to repeat the exam if you made any errors.
- When taking an exam, make sure that you look under the answer
box for the type of answer expected. You can also refer to the math syntax page
at any time.
Because you are allowed to repeat exams, grade appeals will generally
not be granted. However, they will certainly be granted if there is an error in the
problem (see the Errors page). If you want to appeal the scoring on any of your unit exams,
I will be most inclined to consider your request if you bring it to my attention
soon after the exam, but in any case you must do so before the final exam of the
course. I will not consider any appeals after that time. Send me an email with
the exam number(s) and question number(s) that you would like me to look at, and
I will consider your request.
Reviewing your records
and old exams:
- You can review your records and old exams at any time
using the "View Past Results" link on the testing web site.
Exam Descriptions
Be sure to read the description of each exam (available via
the links below) before you take that exam. These include reminders and announcements
about syntax, and other information about exam questions. I expect you to read this
information.
Math 25 home page