The exam consists of 2 parts: a “pre-exam” and a “main exam”. The “pre-exam” exists for 2 reasons:
It checks whether you know at least a little bit, so it is worth for us to really look at your exam and determine a precise score.
It checks whether you are able to work in a precise way. Database work is exact work. A small error in a query can result in a catastrophic difference in answer. You must be able to work precisely, not just in databases but in computer science as a whole.
The score of the exam is determined entirely through your answers on the “main” exam. The exam consists only of exercises. You do not have to learn the database theory by heart. You must be able to use the theory. You must be able to formulate correct queries and to interpret them correctly.
The exam is “open book”. You are allowed to bring any written or printed material you like. However, you are not allowed to bring any computing or communication equipment, including GSM phones, PDA's and laptop computers.
Students who attend at least 6 labsessions and hand in at least 6 homeworks are exempt from the “pre-exam”. These numbers are non-negotiable. You cannot substitute a homework for a labsession. We expect you to attend all labsessions and do all the homework. Requiring only 6+6 is the full extent of our lenience.