CS 314 Test Study Aids

Tests in CS 314 are the major tool for evaluation. Roughly 90% of your grade is based on your performance on the Exams and finals. In general points on exams are 50% short answer questions and 50% coding questions. The coding questions focus on your ability to work with and create abstractions AND create and code algorithms. Note the topics for a given exam may vary from semester to semester based on exams being given at different points in the semester and changes to schedules.

CS314 was first offered Fall 2011. CS314 replaced CS307 and CS315. From the table below use the CS307 Exams 1 and 2 to study for the CS314 Exam 1. Use the CS307 finals to study for the CS314 Exam 2.

The way to maximize your chances for success on the tests are:

• attend lectures

• take notes in lecture

• attend discussion sections

• attend the collaborative study sessions and the supplemental instructions sessions

• get help as soon as your have difficulty. (Instructor and TA help hours, discussion group, SI sessions, Collaborative study sessions, study groups, UT tutoring.)

• start early and complete all assignments

• if you get stuck on something (a topic from lecture, an assignment, or a sample test problem) ask for help!

• start studying the old exams early, not the 5 days before the exam

• take the sample tests as  practice exams, limiting yourself to the time allotted

• write out code to question on paper and then check your answers on the computer

• study for the test in groups, discussing answers to sample exams and section handouts

• do the assigned reading and review notes from lecture

The way to maximize your chance of doing poorly

• don't do the things above

• wait until 1 or 2 days before the assignment due date to start

• study for the test merely by looking over the slides. CS 314 tests are about your ability to create and implement non-trivial algorithms. There is very little simple simple recall involved. I am testing your critical thinking and problem solving skills