ECE ILLINOIS

ECE 313 Exams

Summer 2014

Weekly Quizzes

You will be given a 10 minute quiz during most weeks on Mondays and Thursdays. Your quiz in a given half week will be either one of the homework problems assigned for that half week or one or more of the short answer questions (SAQs) in the notes for the sections you are reading that week. For example, for the first quiz, there are twelve possibilities for the problem on your quiz: Problem 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12, 2.2 (skip part on variance), 2.4, SAQs for Section 1.2, first two SAQs for Section 1.3, second two SAQs for Section 1.3, or SAQs for Section 1.4. The choices of which problems to be given on a quiz will be made randomly and uniformly from among the possibilities. The quizzes will be scored on the basis of 0 points, 5 points, or 10 points, with no exceptions. To receive credit you must indicate how the problem is solved; simply writing the numerical answer will be given no credit. In fact, since no calculators are allowed, if the final answer cannot be derived with reasonable effort without a calculator, then you only need to show the work up to the point a calculator would otherwise be used. Only the top 9 out of twelve quizzes will be used to compute your grade. The quizzes are closed book. No written materials, calculators, cell phones, ear phones, notes, etc. may be used during a quiz. No communication with others during the quiz is allowed. The dates of the quizzes have been listed on the main webpage since well before the beginning of the semester, so please make your travel plans or other appointments accordingly. Since we are dropping your three lowest quiz scores, there will be no makeup or conflict quizzes. After grading, the instructors will keep the quizzes and will show a student her/his quiz upon request. If there is disagreement about the assigned score, the student can give the instructor a written appeal that will be considered by the instructors at a group meeting.

Tip: The quizzes represent early checkpoints on your road to learning how to solve problems for this course, which in some cases includes devising notation for word problems. You will be tested over the same material again on the midterm and final exams, without benefit of knowing ahead of time the list of possible problems. So to use your time most efficiently. read the assigned material in the notes, paying special attention to the examples. Then work out the assigned problems on your own, looking at the answers only if you are truly stuck. Start early in the week; don't wait until just before the quiz. If you work the problems yourself, you will be familiar enough with the problems to do well on the quizzes without wasting your time memorizing solutions. And you will be in a great position for the exams.

Midterm Exams on July 7 and July 24

The topics covered in the exams are exactly the ones in the course notes and concept matrix. Unlike the quizzes, the exams will have problems that are not almost identical to other problems seen during the semester. Exam 1 covers problems, lectures, and reading for weeks 1-3, which is covered in the notes through Section 2.11. You should know the meanings, forms, means, and variances for the key discrete distributions for all the exams, including the final exam. Exam 2 covers problems, lectures, and reading for weeks 1-6, with emphasis on weeks 4-6 , which is covered in the notes through Section 4.4. You should know the meanings, forms, means, and variances for the key continuous-type distributions for Exam 2 (see the inside back cover of the Course Notes). The final will cover problems, lectures, and reading for all weeks, covered in the notes through the end of the notes.

Please make sure that you bring your IDs with you, and that you show up at least 15 minutes earlier, in order to avoid last minute problems (such as not being able to find the room).

You may bring one 8.5" by 11" sheet of notes to the midterm exams; and two 8.5" by 11" sheets of notes to the final exam. Both sides of the sheets can be used. The notes can be typed in font size 10 or larger, or written in handwriting of equivalent size or larger. The exams are closed-book and closed-notes otherwise. Electronic devices (calculators, cellphones, pagers, laptops, headphones, etc.) are neither necessary nor permitted.

You can find copies of old midterm exams and final exams by going to the web pages of previous offerings of ECE 313. The exams this semester will be similar in nature and covering the same topics as in recent past semesters.

The midterm exam dates were posted before the semester began and you are expected to arrange your schedules to make the exams. However, there will be unavoidable conflicts, such as with an exam for another course. A conflict midterm exam will be scheduled and students with conflicts should send an email to jxu18 at illinois dot edu at least one week before the midterm exam, with "conflict exam" in the subject header, explaining what the conflict is with, to request permission for the conflict exam.

If you miss a midterm exam, the following procedures apply: To receive an excused absence, you must either arrange your absence in advance with your instructor (i.e., prior to the absence), or complete an Excused Absence Form at the Undergraduate College Office, Room 207 Engineering Hall, indicating that you missed the midterm exam and the reason for the absence. This form must be signed by a physician or medical official for a medical excuse, or by the Office of the Dean of Students (Emergency Dean, 610 E. John Street, 3330050) for a personal excuse due to personal illness, family emergencies, or other uncontrollable circumstances. Present the completed form in person to your instructor as soon as possible after you return. Scores on midterms due to excused absences will not be made up. Your midterm score for an excused absence will be the weighted average of the other midterm score and final exam score. An unexcused absence from a midterm will be counted as a 0.

Final Exam

    Time: Friday, August 8, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
    Location: 1EVRT-151
Two two-sided 8.5" by 11" sheets of notes are allowed at the final, with font size no smaller than 10 pt or equivalent handwriting. Bring a picture ID. No calculators. The exam consists of a sampling of problems related to the lectures, course notes, and homework problems from throughout the semester. It has about twice as many problems as a midterm exam. Material for problem sets 11 - 13 will be covered slightly more heavily because it wasn't covered in the midterm exams. You are responsible for knowing the forms of all the key discrete and continuous-type distributions listed on the inside covers of the notes (same as Appendix 5.2). Comprehensive lists of the course topics are the table of contents and the index of the notes.

There will be a conflict final exam scheduled but there are strict rules to be followed in determining eligibility for the conflict exam. In particular, you may be eligible to take the conflict final only if you would otherwise have three finals in one 24 hour period. If you qualify for a conflict final, please contact jxu18 at illinois.edu with the word "conflict final" in the subject header by April 15, and explain what other finals you have (the courses and times of the finals) that make you eligible for the conflict final under the above campus policy. If for some reason of emergency such as severe illness you are not able to take the final exam at the required time, you will need to obtain a written excuse from the Office of the Dean of Students.

A table of values of the standard Gaussian CDF will be supplied to you if it is needed on an exam.

See Previous semester's web pages for old exams and solutions.