The current results of ECE110’s first midterm exam look good, on average, to the ECE110 staff, BUT…
maybe you, personally, feel that the exam doesn’t truly reflect your mastery of the material? Maybe you, personally, feel like you could have done better with a little more time or an exam more-closely matched in style to the homework? Since our goal is that you master the material and have every opportunity to prove so in a fair assessment, we are providing 2nd-chance testing. Here is how it works:
· The retake exam will be online at a testing facility in Grainger using PrairieLearn.
· The retake exam will likely have different problems than you saw in the original exam.
· You will have 50 min to complete the exam consisting of 6-10 problems (TBD).
· The problems will likely be short, numeric answer (similar to first exam) with three opportunities to answer correctly. There is a penalty for wrong guesses. Your score will be 10, 7, or 5 points, respectively, for each additional try.
· You may not bring a help sheet (a great teaching tool that only acts as a crutch during an exam).
· You are allowed to use the on-computer calculator. The numbers might not be “nice”.
· Your score on the 2nd-chance exam does not directly replace your first midterm score, but modifies it as specified in the table on the next page based on both your original midterm score and the 2nd-chance exam score. The potential benefit is higher for students who had weaker performance on the original midterm exam.
· DRES accommodations apply if you have any. Bring your letter of accommodation to the proctor in the facility, but, for extended time, you must not sign up for the last hour of the day (the facility will close at the normal time).
To be allowed to take advantage of this opportunity, you must show due diligence in improving your mastery of the material. The first makeup assignment (to earn back lost Lon Capa points) plays a role…
· Read the instructions at https://edu.cs.illinois.edu/cbtf.html.
· Sign up for the 2nd-chance exam at https://edu.cs.illinois.edu/testcenter.
·
Complete the Makeup assignment (to be posted by Saturday, September
17) in PrairieLearn with a grade 
before you arrive at the
CBTF for the exam retake.
· The makeup assignment will offered in the same format as the 2nd-chance test; 10, 7, and 5 pts.
· The makeup assignment score is scaled to a possible 25 pts and used to replace lost Lon Capa points.
· The makeup assignment can be done using any Internet connection (ie. from home).
· You must score at least 60% on that makeup assignment BEFORE you enter the testing facility for your 2nd-chance exam.
Comments:
As said above, this is not a reaction to the overall exam grades (with which we are pleased!). Rather, this is a teaching-and-learning technique to motivate stronger learning at a time when the material is fresh, your shortcomings are identified, and your motivation for improvement is high! ECE110 remains committed to providing the resources for learning and we believe this technique may have significant value.
You are not required to take the 2nd-chance exam or even to complete the makeup assignment. Taking the 2nd-chance exam can only affect your first midterm score in a positive (but never a negative) way. Taking the 2nd-chance exam does not forfeit any opportunities offered by the final exam (read the syllabus!) regarding the replacement of the lowest midterm score.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to do the makeup assignment?
A: No, not unless you want to take the second-chance (retake) exam and/or if you want to earn back points lost in the Lon Capa Homework.
Q: I already have full credit on Lon Capa and did well on the first exam. Should I complete the makeup assignment?
A: I wouldn’t bother. You probably already know this material well and that would just be “busy work”. You will have an opportunity on later midterms to perform makeup assignments when you might actually need the extra practice.
Q: Can the retake make my exam score worse?
A: No, use the table above to estimate your new exam score by finding the intersection of the two exam scores.
Q: Will the exam contain the same problems I saw before?
A: The exams problems are not only randomized, but a different selection of problems from the course database may be used in retake exams. No, your exam will not be identical to the first exam you took.
Q: I read in the syllabus that the final exam can replace the lowest midterm score. Which grade would that replace if I use the retake now?
A: Thanks for actually reading the syllabus! If the New Grade (the intersection of the two grades in the table above) is your lowest midterm grade, it will be replaced by a higher grade scored on your final exam.