ANIMAL BIOLOGY
Biology 116

EXAM INFORMATION

  • EXAM DATES:  
    • Exam dates are as listed in the course syllabus. Please check there.
      Final exam dates are listed near the bottom, so check carefully.
  • SCOPE OF EACH EXAM:  
    • The first exam will cover class material and readings listed on the first four weeks of the syllabus (approximately), through Ecdysozoa.
    • The second exam will cover class material and readings listed on weeks 5-8 of the syllabus (Chordates and other Deuterostomes); material covered on the first exam will not be covered again.
    • The final exam will be semi-cumulative. Most of the exam will cover the final third of the course, but there will also be questions in part I (short-answer questions) taken from earlier exams, and questions covering later material will often assume knowledge of earlier material as well.
  • EXAM FORMAT:   Questions will be of the following three types:
    1. Questions requiring a single word or two-word term as an answer, such as a sentence completion ("fill in the blank"), or (on the final exam only) labels to a diagram.   A word bank will be provided for such questions.
    2. Definitions (in your own words) among a wide choice of terms.
    3. "Free format" questions requiring explanations to be written in your own words.   Diagrams may help in answering some of these questions.   Free-format questions will have many choices, such as answering two questions from a much longer list; please read the instructions carefully and take the time to choose wisely.
  • I do not take off for spelling, as long as the word sounds right when pronounced.
  • WHAT TO STUDY:
    • LECTURE NOTES, INCLUDING THE OUTLINES (AND ILLUSTRATIONS) POSTED ONLINE.  
    • ASSIGNED READINGS IN THE TEXT, with special attention to the vocabulary words that are printed in boldface or defined in the text.
    • In general, my exams tend to emphasize material covered in class more than material in the book.
        Of course, anything covered in both places is doubly important!
    • If you have any questions about whether or not a certain topic will be covered, please feel free to email me.
  • STUDY GUIDES:
    The outlines posted online make an excellent study guide. That is one important purpose that they serve.
     
  • HOW TO STUDY: Click here for general advice.
  • Students who need special accommodations for the exam will receive special instructions via email. Please make sure that I am aware of your needs.
  • If you miss an exam for any reason, it is your responsibility to email me and arrange for a make-up, which will probably be an all-essay exam given during the final exam period.