NOTE: Your proctor can launch this testing program by clicking on the above graphic.
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NOTE: Your proctor can launch this testing program by clicking on the above graphic. |
Exam Description
Students take the tests in this course via the internet with a program specifically designed for that purpose, SoTest. The software creates multiple-choice exams by randomly selecting and organizing the questions from a large testbank provided by the textbook publisher. Consequently, no two exams are ever identical: each student will take an individualized test —but on the very same concepts as other classmates.
Unlike the homework quizzes, the exams are timed. Nonetheless, the program allows twice as much time as students typically need: each test lasts as many minutes as there are questions. This gives students ample time to skip questions, return to them later, review and change answers, etc. I surmise that many students do this on our tests, answering the “easy” questions first, and then taking more time to think about the “harder” questions. Regardless, the testing program will always alert you when and if the allotted time is growing short.
Test Proctors
Only authorized test proctors can access the SoTest program, and thus students must take their exams under their strict supervision. As you can see in the course calendar, one week before each test, you must set an appointment with the Extension Center for the section in which you have registered for the class. Below is a list of the various sections, with links to their locations and contact pages:
Section Webpage Phone Cities A01 Southeast Center (435) 678-8500 Blanding
Montezuma Creek
Monticello
Monument ValleyB01 Brigham City Center (435) 734-2277 Brigham City
Randolph
TremontonC01 Southwest Center (435) 283-7590 Beaver
Delta
Ephraim
Gunnison
Junction
Kanab
Loa
Milford
Nephi
Panguitch
RichfieldE01 Moab Center (435) 259-7432 Green River
MoabK01 Kaysville Center (801) 626-8141 Kaysville
OgdenL01 Distance Education (435) 797-9700 Logan Main Campus N01 Orem Center (801) 226-9045 Heber
Provo
OremP01 Price Center (435) 613-5610 Castle Dale
PriceS01 Salt Lake Center (385) 646-5570 Salt Lake T01 Tooele Center (435) 882-6611 Dugway
Grantsville
Tooele
WendoverU01 Uintah Basin Center (435) 722-2294 Duschese
Roosevelt
VernalZ01 Out-of-State (435) 797-9700 outside of Utah
NOTE: Students registered in the above sections must take their exams at the corresponding Extension Centers —and nowhere else. The only exception are the students in the Z01 (out-of-state) section, who will need to make arrangements to take the exams elsewhere (another university, a library, a military base, etc.) under the supervision of a pre-approved test proctor. In such instances they must process beforehand an authorization request for Distance Education.ALSO NOTE: If Distance Education has not provided the test proctors with the current username and password to launch the SoTest program, please tell them that they need to immediately contact the Proctor Coordinator, Liz Stewart (liz.stewart@usu.edu, 435-797-9700, 800-233-2137 toll-free) or as a last resort send me an e-mail.
LIKEWISE NOTE: I very strongly recommend that, if at all possible, you do not schedule to take a test on the very last evening of the last day. You can never tell if there might occur an unanticipated complication or technical glitch, so you should allow plenty of extra time to seek help, correct the problem, and administer the exam before the testing period ends. If you do not give yourself that time “buffer,” you risk losing all the test points for not completing it on time. The basic admonition is this: schedule your exam as earlier as feasible during the testing window. You will not only avoid said risk, but the homework quizzes will also still be fresh on your mind.
Students are allowed approximately one minute per question when taking these exams, although we very seriously doubt that anyone needs that much time to stare at each and every question before choosing an answer. The statistics compiled from literally hundreds of tests to date reveal that students spend an average of 30 seconds per question, i.e., about half the amount of time allowed.
We inform the test proctors that you may NOT use any books, e-books, notes, cell phones, palm pilots, iPods, jump drives, other internet sites or browser windows, etc., etc., when taking the exam. We are testing what you have learned and retained in your heads —NOT what you can look up— and thus you are only to use the testing window, your brain, and the computer mouse.
After you have finished the exam, and seen your results, you can click the button to review your mistakes. You are welcome to jot down some brief notes about those errors on a blank piece of paper, but the test proctors know that we do NOT allow you to simply copy down the questions and answers verbatim.
Exam Periods
In the course calendar are specified two-day “windows” when the tests are given. Students must take their exams when scheduled, but can set their appointments at a time that is most convenient for them within the 48-hour period. As stated in the rules, to be fair to all those enrolled there are no exceptions to the testing schedule.
Relative Weight of the Exams
There are three tests in the class, and their total points constitute approximately 72% of your grade.
Test Questions Points Total % of Grade 1 50 x 2 = 100 16% 2 75 x 2 = 150 24% 3 100 x 2 = 200 32% As you can see in the above table, the three exams are progressively cumulative and comprehensive, i.e., the number of points in each test increases, because there will be likewise be more questions on all the subjects covered up to that point in the course:
Test 1 covers:
Chapter 1: What is Social Psychology? Chapter 9: Social Psychology as a Science Chapter 2: Conformity Chapter 3: Mass Communication, Propaganda, and Persuasion Test 2 adds to the previous concepts:
Chapter 4: Social Cognition Chapter 5: Self-Justification Chapter 6: Human Aggression Test 3 adds to all the previous concepts:
Chapter 7: Prejudice Chapter 8: Liking, Loving, and Interpersonal Sensitivity Because the testing software randomly generates the questions, there is never an exact number per chapter, but on the second and third exams the programming does attempt to choose more questions from the more recent subjects than the earlier ones. It is also worth mentioning again that the tests allow as many minutes as there are questions, that is, the first exam lasts 50 minutes, the second 75 minutes, and the final 100 minutes.
Test Preparation
The best way to prepare for the exams is by concienciously practicing your homework quizzes, since the questions they pose are often very similar. Nonetheless, you should not assume that it is merely a matter of memorizing which answer “button” to click because you might not see that same button on the tests! The challenge is to learn and retain the knowledge presented —not just memorize answers to questions. I therefore very strongly suggest that you eventually learn to complete the quizzes without using your book or notes, taking no more than 30 seconds per question, to better replicate what you will actually experience when taking the exams.
Those who need even more practice than the homework quizzes provide can always take advantage of the chat sessions, the publisher’s chapter outlines accessible from the course calendar, and especially the supplementary exercises provided by the publisher free-of-charge.
In short, the more you practice, look up, read, compare, study, review, discuss, think... the better prepared you will be for the exams.
©2012 Tamara J Ferguson
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