The Differentiation Gateway Exam
Calculus is a coherent set of ideas that describe changes using mathematics. Although symbolic manipulation
is not the central idea of the course, it is the language in which we describe mathematical ideas and a powerful
set of tools that we use to answer questions that interest us. Essentially, symbolic representation and manipulations
are the grammar rules that allow us to speak the language of calculus. It is imperative that you obtain sufficient
facility with symbolic manipulation so that the manipulations themselves do not form a barrier between you and
the ideas they represent.
Differentiation Gateway Exam Guidelines:
- The differentiation gateway exam is a purely computational exam, designed to make sure that you are obtaining
the analytical (grammatical) skills that are required to do calculus. The exam will consist of seven problems
that will test a student's ability to apply differentiation rules correctly without the aid of technology. To pass
the Gateway Exam, a student must present flawless solutions to all seven problems on the exam. By "flawless",
we mean that a solution must be 100% correct in terms of computation AND presentation. A misplaced equal sign (mathematical
verb) or an omitted parenthesis would make a problem incorrect. The Gateway Exam is worth 10% of the final course
grade.
Since perfect solutions are required, a reasonable number of retakes of the Gateway Exam are permitted according
to the following guidelines:
- Retakes will be of similar format to the first Gateway Exam, but will consist of different problems.
- A student may take no more than 2 retakes per week, and may take at most 1 retake in any given day. No student
may retake the Gateway Exam after 5PM on the last day of classes.
- A student who passes the Gateway Exam on his/her first attempt will receive 120 points out of 100 (or an extra
2% for the total course grade) for this portion of the course.
- A student who passes a retake within three weeks after the Gateway Exam is first given will receive 100 points
(i.e., full credit) for this portion of the course.
- A student who passes a retake after more than three weeks have passed since the first Gateway Exam was given
will receive 50 points out of 100 (i.e., half credit) for this portion of the course.
- A student who fails to pass the Gateway Exam on all attempts will receive 0 points out of 100 (i.e., no credit)
for this portion of the course.