Exam, January 2025

• Several of the pages on Canvas will be disabled during the exam. But this page and the quiz page will be available during the exam.
• You submit your final solutions in Canvas. But, before you enter the final results, you can use either normal papers or the computer (using the virtual machine) to solve the tasks.
• Note that Canvas continuously saves your quiz answers, so you do not have to click save. 
• Note also that you MUST NOT submit your solution until you are completely done. It is very complicated to resubmit if you have already submitted. If you submitted by mistake, you need to contact the exam invigilator. Note that you need to enter all tasks again in such a case, so please do not submit until you are completely finished with the exam.

Handing in the exam

When the time is up, you need to submit the exam before the exam time ends. However, if you are finished with your solution before the time ends, you may submit before the deadline. 

Allowed aids

• One sheet of A4 paper (both sides) with notes. The notes must be handwritten by you and may not have been copied. 
• You must use the VM supplied in the course. No other software is allowed to be used. 
• The MIPS sheet, which is provided as part of the VM. There will also be a printed copy available.
• You are not allowed to install anything on the VM. 
• You are allowed to use pen and paper when solving the tasks. However, all results must be entered in Canvas using the VM.
• You are not allowed to use headsets or any other equipment. The ordinary rules for normal written exams also apply here. 

Exam structure

The main structure of the exam is similar to previous years. You will also be able to get sub-points on some of the exercises. The main structure is as follows:

Part I: Fundamentals

• Max 40 points (IS1200) and max 48 points (IS1500).
• 8 points for each module.
• Short questions with short answers.

Part II: Advanced

• Comprehensive questions.
• Discuss, analyze, and construct.

Note that the exam in Canvas says that it consists of 57 points for IS1500 and 49 points for IS1200. For IS1500, the fundamentals (Part I) consist as before of 6 modules x 8 points = 48p, and for IS1200 5 modules x 8 points = 40p (IS1200 students do not have module 3). The extra 9 points (48+9=57 for IS1500 and 40+9=49 for IS1200) are for the advanced part. For each of the advanced questions, you will actually get grade F, S, G, or VG, and not points (see below). However, the Canvas quiz system does not let us use these letter grades within the quiz. This is why you see the 9 extra points for the quiz in Canvas. The final exam letter grade will be entered in a separate Canvas assignment.

Grading

Pass criteria:

To get a pass grade on the exam (A, B, C, D, or E), it is required to pass Part I of the exam. For IS1500 students, it is required to get at least 2 points on each module (excluding bonus points), and in total at least 36 points on Part I (including bonus points). For IS1200 students, it is required to get at least 2 points on each module (excluding bonus points), and to get at least 30 points in total on modules 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 on Part I (including bonus points). Note that there is an explicit mapping between the official learning goals of the course, and the modules. That is, the criterion to pass the course is to have sufficient knowledge on all modules. The learning goal of explaining technical solutions orally and in writing is examined during labs and in the project.

Grading criteria:

Passing only Part I gives in total grade E on the exam. To get a higher grade (A, B, C, or D), the student needs to show knowledge within three different abilities, each represented as a separate question in Part II.

• Question 1: Discuss: Test the ability to discuss and compare different concepts present in the course. The focus of the discussion is on module 6, but other concepts from modules 1, 2, 4, 5 may also appear on the exam. The question is graded in three levels S, G, and VG, with the following criteria:
  
  • Satisfactory (S): Some of the concepts in the question are clearly explained.
  • Good (G): Basically all concepts in the question are clearly explained, and some of the concepts  are related to each other, by discussing similarities and differences.
  • Very Good (VG): Basically all concepts in the question are clearly explained, and all of the concepts are related to each other, by discussing similarities and differences. 
• Question 2: Construct: Test the ability to correctly construct larger C and/or Assembly programs. The focus on the construction question is on modules 1 and 2. The question  is divided into three tasks/functions, each corresponding to one of three levels of difficulty: L1, L2, and L3. The question is graded in three levels S, G, and VG, with the following criteria:
  
  • Satisfactory (S): The task at level L1 is solved correctly.
  • Good (G):  Either the task at level L2 or the task at level L3  is solved correctly.
  • Very Good (VG): Both the tasks at level L2 and L3 are solved correctly.
• Question 3: Analyze: Test the ability to analyze C and/or Assembly programs with respect to pipelines and/or caches. The focus on question 3 is on modules 4 and 5. The question  is divided into three analysis tasks, each corresponding to one of three levels of difficulty: L1, L2, and L3. The question is graded in three levels S, G, and VG, with the following criteria:
  
  • Satisfactory (S): The task at level L1 is solved correctly.
  • Good (G):  Either the task at level L2 or the task at level L3  is solved correctly.
  • Very Good (VG): Both the tasks at level L2 and L3 are solved correctly.

In summary, the final grades on the exam are given as follows: 

• Grade A: Passed Part I, performed an advanced project, and received three VG or two VG and one G on part II.
• Grade B: Passed Part I, performed an advanced project,  and received one VG and two G or two VG and one S on part II.
• Grade C: Passed Part I, performed a basic or advanced project, and received three G or two G and one S or one VG and two S or one VG and one G and one F or two VG and one F or one VG and one G and one S on part II.
• Grade D: Passed Part I, performed a basic or advanced project, and received three S or one G and one S and one F or two G and one F or one VG and one S and one F or one VG and two F or one G and two S on part II.
• Grade E: Passed Part I, performed a basic or advanced project.
• Grade FX: At least 36 points (for IS1500) or at least 30 points (for IS1200) on Part I, and at most one module with less than 2 points.
• Grade: F: otherwise

Bonus points: It is possible to get up to 4 bonus points on the seminars. These bonus points will be added to part I, fundamentals. The points will not be added to a specific module, but is counted when summarizing the total points of Part I. The bonus points are not shown in the quiz. 

Advanced project: To get grade A or B on the written exam, the student must have completed an advanced project before the exam and within the same course year. That is, the accomplishment of completing an advanced project gives the possibility to get grade A or B on the ordinary exam when the project was completed, and on the two following retake exams. The status of your project (basic or advanced) is not shown in the quiz, but will be used when calculating your final grade after the exam.

Frequently asked questions

• When I register to the exam I get this error "Only registered, enrolled users can take graded quizzes". How do I solve it?
  Click the key between the KTH logotype and the word "Login". This will let Canvas detect that you are logged-in (or ask you to login, if you're not).
  
  
• Can I use the 'bc' calculator on the VM during the exam?
  Yes, you can use 'bc' or the default calculator on the VM (even in "programming mode").  
  
  
• Do I get a blank paper at the exam?
  Yes, invigilators will give you blank papers
  
  
• Can I use the MIPS reference sheet at the exam?
  Yes, it is available on the VM and it should also be available in a printed form available from the invigilators. 
  
  
• Is the virtual machine already installed on a KTH computer at the exam?
  Yes.
  
  
• Can the cheat sheet be written by hand on an iPad and then printed out? 
  No, the cheat sheet must be written with a pen on a paper.
  
  
  
• Is wearing a facial mask at the exam considered cheating?
  No. It is not considered cheating. Please follow the invigilators’ instructions during the ID control. 

• Can I still edit the exam if I submit it?
  No, once you submit the exam, you cannot make any additional modifications. 
  
  
• Are question on computers similar to previous written exams?
  Yes, they are.
  
  
• When will the registration to the (re)-exam be available?
  Check the KTH Calendar for registering to exams: https://www.kth.se/en/student/studier/schema/tentaperioder-1.278515 
  Remember that the registration is on Ladok.
  
  
• Do I get my grade right after the exam?
  No. We use automatic correction of the code but then we manually check all solutions to see whether there were some formatting issues. Moreover, we have one open-ended question in the exam whose correction cannot be automated. 
  
  
• Can we change the language of the keyboard?
  Yes.
  
  
• Are we allowed to add plugins to the available text editors that are available on the VM?
  No.
  
  
• What browser can I use?
  Only Firefox can be used as we have control on what pages you can access. 
  
  
• I aim for an advanced grade but I only passed the Basic project. Can I try to get an A or B now at the written exam and then obtain an advanced project grade later on at a EXPO re-examination? 
  No. You must have already an advanced project grade before the written exam in order to get an advanced grade (i.e., A or B).
  
  
• What system is used for the written exam?
  The exam will be performed using Quizzes on Canvas.
  
  
• Can we access the lecture pages from Canvas?
  No.
  
  
• How can I save my answers while doing the exam?
  Canvas automatically saves all your edits as long as you have Internet connection. Be sure that your machine is connected to the Internet. Remember to submit your quizzes before the end of the exam.
  
  
• What happens if you get an FX?
  If the student receives an FX on the exam, they are offered an oral examination regarding completion of the modules that the student did not pass. Please contact the examiner if you have received FX on the exam. See above description of what applies to get FX.
  
  
• Can we use a peripheral at the exam?
  An external mouse is allowed. Any other peripheral request must be forwarded to the examiner. 
  
  

• I installed the VM but the top-left box is colored. Is that OK?
  Yes, the box will display a logo only during the actual exam. 

Responsible Examiner

Artur Podobas (IS1500) & Marco Chiesa (IS1200)

Email: podobas@kth.se , mchiesa@kth.se