1. Here is information about the Midterm Exam procedures. The midterm exam is available from 7 am on April 13 until 11:45 pm on April 20. I do not extend the deadline for the Midterm or Final Exams. To insure you have the full amount of time for the exam, you must begin the exam about 8:30 pm on April 20. The exam is difficult compared to the quizzes, as it is timed, allows only one attempt, and uses questions of above average difficulty (top 1/3 of quiz questions). Budget your time, do not answer the exam linearly as you may not get to an easy question while you spend much time on a difficult question.
2. The exam is available for 195 minutes. Answers are not accepted after time has expired. To avoid issues related to loss of connectivity, you should print the exam as soon as you open the exam. You should save each answer as you complete a question. If you should lose power during the exam, call me. If connectivity is not restored before time has expired, email me the answers or call/text me and leave the answers as a message on my cell phone.
My cell phone number is 770-301-8648; call me if you are having problems during the exam. If you wish to ask a question during the exam call me. If I do not answer, leave a message and I will get back to you. I may have the ability to monitor your work during the exam. If you have a problem during the exam, we can talk on the phone while I look at your exam.
The exam is open book and open notes. You are expected to do your own work. Outside human assistance, either directly or indirectly, is not allowed. I will not release scores on the exam until after the exam has closed, probably on October 2. Budget your time. If there is an area in which you are weak and slow, save this for last.
3. Here is information about the questions on the Mid-Term Exam. The exam covers material in Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and possibly 13. The first question gives procedures you are to follow on the exam; this question is worth 1.8 points. The next 18 questions are a mix of concept and calculations questions, worth 3.9 points each. Of these 18 questions, there are sight concept questions averaging about one concept questions per chapter. The remaining ten questions are calculations with five being multiple-choice and five being questions where you enter a numerical answer. Of the calculations, one is a Time Value of Money problem, four are Financial Statement Analysis problems, two are Bond Valuation problem, and three are Risk and Return problems.
The 19th question is a multi-step time value of money problem worth eight points. If you post your work notes on this question, partial credit is possible. The last question is a scrambled income statement and balance sheet problem, where you enter ten answers at two points each (20 points).
4. There are a few things about the Mid-term of which you should be aware. First the exam is difficult. Let me repeat, the exam is difficult. Exam questions are similar to the most difficult (top 1/3) of quiz questions. Based on past experience, I expect the class average to be 75 +/- 5 points. The exam is designed to be similar to the Final Exam difficulty. If I need to curve the exam I will do so. Or restated, you do not need to be perfect to get an A in the class, you just need to have a higher grade than most of your classmates.
Second, the exam uses several questions where you enter numbers, rather than choose among multiple choice answers. Third, while the exam questions are similar to quiz questions, only a few of the questions are exact duplicates. Be sure to read each questions carefully. Fourth, while no new topics are on the exam, there are many ways that a concept or calculation can be phrased.
Hope this helps. Call or email if you need additional information.
