Programming Assessment
Programming Assessment
A C programming assessment is given at the end of each of the following courses: CS 202, 499, 500, 685, 695, 699. Examples of the assessments are at [1], [2]. The assessment consists of 5 programming problems in C from basic programming and data structures. The assessment is given on paper with no calculator, computer, etc., and students are given at least 45 minutes to complete the assessment. A student passes the assessment if both of the following hold: answers to all 5 questions are at least partially correct, and at least 3 answers are completely correct.
The following are in effect immediately.
- CS 202: grade of C requires passing the programming assessment.
- CS 500: grade of greater than C requires passing the programming assessment.
- CS 499, 685, 695, 699: passing the course requires passing the programming assessment.
- The programming assessment will be given four times per semester, around the 5th, 10th, 12th, and 14th weeks. The assessment will not be given any extra times for those who weren't able to pass, so you should definitely not miss any of these chances.
- The programming assessment needs to be passed only once as an undergraduate and once as a graduate student. If you pass in CS 202 you don't need to take it in CS 499. If you pass it in CS 500 you don't need to pass it in CS 685/695/699.
Note that in particular this means a CS student cannot graduate without passing the programming assessment.
There have been many questions and some anxiety about the programming assessment. See some more information on the FAQ. See also /u1/junk/ProgrammingAssessment on the server for more practice problems, and more previous versions of the assessment. Also, see a youtube video by Jeff Kinne with advice and answers for one of the versions of the assessment.
MWF noon is normally free for most CS students as a time to give the assessment; though some students have non-CS classes at this time. The class time for CS 202, 499, 500, 685 are also potential good times. It is best to pick the times and days for the assessment early in the semester and get them onto the calendar on the CS homepage.
