University of Toronto - Summer 1996
Department of Computer Science
CSC 148H: INTRODUCTION TO
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Final Exam Information
Format
- 3 hours
- Aids allowed: textbook, lecture notes, handbook, nothing else
(eg, no calculators)
- The exam will have 7 questions for a total of 90 marks.
Content
- all material covered during the term in lectures and tutorials
(Note that, this term, the topic "Dictionaries and Hashing"
was not covered.)
- all readings assigned in lecture
- assignments are also fair game, but will not be stressed
- the whole term is game, not just the stuff after the midterm
Specifics
Types of questions will be along the lines of recent midterms and
finals. Examples (not necessarily a complete list):
- write code (perhaps with pointers, or recursion)
- trace code
- write specs for code
- do part of a proof of correctness of code (iterative or recursive)
- sketch a whole proof (non-rigorous proof)
- do big-oh analysis of code
- talk about pros and cons of various implementations for an ADT
- derive a recurrence relation
- do some OO design
- talk about any of these things.
Difficulty
The marks from the term are close to average. The exam is intended to
be fair and challenging, but not a killer. There should be more than
enough time, if you know your stuff.
Advice about how to study for the exam
- Go back over anything you never felt good about; ask us about it.
- Practice! Do the sample exams in the handbook.
Some solutions are available in the Engineering Library. Look at a
solution after you try to solve a question.
- Go to office hours, even if you don't have specific
questions. The office hours often turn into great small-group
discussions, and you will be welcome to just listen, or to contribute
if you wish.
- Look at the assignment solutions and make sure you understand them.
Advice about how to write the exam
- Read over the whole exam before you start.
- Budget your time. It's not intended to be a speed test, but you
could run out of time if you lose track of time.
- Read questions with care, and be sure to do what we asked for!
- If you are at all unsure about what we mean, feel free to ask a question.
- PLEASE, when asking questions, whisper!