Exam Preparation

1
Exam Preparation

• Preparing for the CM602 Examination
• D.Miller
• J. Horton

2
Examination Paper Instructions or Rubric

•   (Rubric org. ME English referring to
  something written in red for emphasis. Source
  Concise Oxford Dictionary).
• Rubric for this exam is
• Three questions set.
• Answer any two questions.
• If you attempt more than two questions, the first
  two questions only will be marked.
• You should score through any work that you do not
  wish the tutors to mark.
• Each question is marked out of thirty.
• The marks available for each part-question are
  indicated in the question.
• This examination is worth 50 of the total marks
  for the module.
• There is a scenario (1 page) on which two
  questions are based.

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What is assessed?

• This examination contributes to the assessment of
  the following learning outcomes
• 1. Choose and apply appropriate user-centred
  approaches to the development and implementation
  of information systems.
• 3. Apply and evaluate the principles and
  techniques of UML in relation to the testing and
  implementation of systems.
• 4. Analyse the impact of development methods on
  the management of projects and the requirements
  for a professional approach in effective systems
  development.

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Possible Topics

• All topics not covered by the assignments,
  including
• Systems ideas SSM SSM IS
• Reuse, design patterns, components
• USDP
• Metrics
• Testing
• Implementation issues, implementation strategies
• Application of principles
• No whole questions on Daves topics, but user
  issues risks of failure may be relevant to
  questions on other topics.
• NOT topics covered by the assignments
• DSDM
• XP
• Apprenticing
• London Ambulance System

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In the Exam

• Read the whole paper
• Work out how much time to allocate to each
  question and part.
• Plan your answer.
• Think before you write.
• Make sure your writing is readable.
• Make sure you indicate which question and part
  you are attempting.

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Dont Panic if at first it seems you cant answer
enough

• 40 bare pass
• 50 2.2 performance
• 60 2.1 performance
• 70 1st class performance
• 60 marks available
• For 40 I need 24 marks
• For 50 I need 30 marks
• For 60 I need 36 marks
• For 70 I need 42 marks
• Figure out where you are most likely to be able
  to get the most marks from.

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Map out answers before you write them up

• For each question you plan to tackle, sketch out
  and list relevant
• Facts
• Issues
• Arguments
• Evidence.
• Put this in your exam script, strike a line
  through it after you have written out the answer.

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In the Exam

• Answer the question.
• Read it carefully.
• Make sure you are seeing what is actually there,
  not what you hoped would be there.
• Think about what the person who set it had in
  mind.
• Sometimes it is a good idea to state your
  assumptions about a question.
• If the question is similar to, but not quite the
  same as one you prepared for then
• Think carefully about these differences.
• Evaluate, discuss, justify, argue
• These are not the same!
• See what the question requires and do it.
• At least part of each question asks you to do
  more than recall your notes.
• Some parts may be practical tasks
• Good answers are not purely descriptive
• Answers which simply reproduce lecture material
  or set reading do not attract high marks

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In the Exam

• First, convince the examiner you know the basics
• but keep it relevant long descriptions usually
  arent whats needed.
• Only then introduce the more complex issues or
  perspectives.
• Questions may be structured in parts that first
  ask you to display knowledge, then to apply,
  analyse, evaluate etc.
• Dont put your personal opinions before knowledge
  of the subject
• E.g. you might think that emphasis on
  user-centred design is not the right way to go
  about I.S. development. But in answering exam
  questions
• First you have to demonstrate that you fully
  understand the arguments and evidence for and
  against user-centred design within the academic
  and practitioner communities
• Then, if you wish, you can show that you hold
  other views, and explain why.

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What about notes and literature?

• Dont try to reproduce lecture notes etc. exactly
  
• Yes, some people can do this.
• Your own thoughts are important.
• If appropriate, give brief quotes references to
  support the arguments you are making.
• Use literature and experience wisely
• Evidence of wider reading usually attracts credit
  in written questions but always indicate the
  source.
• We dont expect full references, but at least
  give the authors name, or name and year.
• Relevant examples from your experience or the
  literature also usually attract credit if they
  contribute to answering the question set. They
  arent a substitute for answering the question.

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Prepare Effectively

• Dont just read summarise, organise, review,
  question.
• Revise by condensing down the material into one
  page for major topic
• Then condense those down to one page for the
  whole module.
• Attempt practice questions, and invent your own.
• Dont stay up too late the night before!

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Remember

• Make sure you can write about the major themes
  and the relationships between them.
• Questions will assess the learning outcomes
• Seminar material is as important as lecture
  material.
• Your own reading is also important.
• Doing practice questions is helpful.

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And finally

• Good Luck!