Final Exam Information: Spring / Summer / Fall

The symbol ??? means there is still some uncertainty. The uncertainties will be eliminated as the exam time approaches. The hidden comment "update" indicates something that may need updating for the current semester.

1. The final is a specified below (the date is firm) and in UNLV final exam schedule.
   EOF

2. The final is comprehensive and will cover:
   1. Ast 103: Planetary Systems IALs 0,1,2,3, 4,5,6,7, 8,9,10,11, 12,13,14, 15,16,21. IAL 5 and, IAL 13 are assigned as reading-homework-self-testings only---they are NOT covered in class. Note IAL -1 and 18 are reading-homework-self-testings (except IAL 18 has NO homework to self test on), but they are NOT on tests or final.
   2. Ast 104: Stars & Cosmology IAL: 0,1,2,3, 4,5,6,7, 8,19,20,21,22, 25,26,28,29,30. Recall IAL 5 (omitting tides for the Stars & Cosmology course) is assigned as a reading-homework-self-testing only---it will NOT be covered in class. Note IAL -1 and IAL 23 are only reading-homework-self-testings (except IAL 23 has NO homework to self test on), but they are NOT on tests or final.
   IALs NOT covered by previous in-class exams and lectured on in class MAY have heavier weighting than the other IALs. For 2021 Spring, the last 5 covered IALs have a 35 % weighting. So those lectures should be a study priority.
3. The final will be a 2-hour exam. Except it will be 90 minutes for In-Person Instruction (IPI) summer semesters. It is CLOSED book/notes.
4. There will be 100 multiple-choice problems. About 50--70 % of them are drawn from homeworks---the rest are NOT---but they are based on the lectures. The final is comprehensive and covers the whole semester.
5. Final exam solutions for section 1. Yours truly no longer posts exam solutions since makeups go on endlessly. After 2018 Fall.
6. Final exam solutions for section 2. Yours truly no longer posts exam solutions since makeups go on endlessly. After 2018 Fall.
7. If you need a makeup, you should email me suggesting a time after consulting the instructor schedule. Note YOU should suggest a time. The same is true for course interviews---YOU should suggest a time.
8. Section 1001: final average ???%, standard deviation ???%.
9. Section 1002: final average ???%, standard deviation ???%.
10. See me privately about any queries about grading and we will see what we can do.
    In-Person Instruction Course: Scantron readers sometimes make mistakes---but be forewarned, I photocopy some of the scantrons to forestall any attempts at the old change-the-scantron scam. Also, I can make mistakes making up the key or entering marks.
11. See me very ASAP about queries since my grades are formally due the Tuesday after finals week at 4 pm (see the relevant Academic Calendars). But effectively they are due earlier because I usually submit them that Tuesday morning. After grades have been submitted, changes are difficult. Purely, clerical errors can be fixed afterward---which is all that is likely with pure multiple-choice exams---but it is still a bother. Reweighting of marked items is virtually forbidden by the registrar. This applies to all courses---so be warned---get any queries about grades in fast before the instructor has submitted his/her grades.
12. In-Person Instruction Course: Interviews must be completed by Friday BEFORE finals week as specified in the Syllabus: Interview with the instructor (1%). Interviews can be done quickly before or after class, but by appointment is best. Remember that the interview is 1 % of the grade which can make a difference if you are near a grade line.
13. All readings-homework-self-testings are due the Monday after finals. The sooner reported the better, the better. See Readings for the list of readings. Some students have expressed concern that I have NOT recorded readings they have reported. Sometimes I miss a report. Sometimes students forget they have NOT reported or have been unclear in a report. Right now the best thing to say---truthfully say---is "I have read all required lectures." It is the STUDENT'S responsibility to get a confirmation from me or from their posted grade records that their readings are all entered.