Instructions for the comprehensive exam:
- No electronic device should be brought to the exams. You may use a designated lab computer (provided by the ECE department) for necessary coding or computation in answering the questions. The only exception is to bring in a calculator which should not have a connectivity to Internet. This exception applies to Exam 2 only. If you plan to use electronic notes, please upload it to a cloud server ahead of time. During the exam, you may access the cloud server from the desktop computers in the lab as well.
- Students admitted before fall 2021 will need to take the comprehensive exam from the two areas of concentration they select.
- Students admitted on or after fall 2021 will need to take 2 exams: 1 from Categories 1 and 2 and another 1 from Categories 3 and 4.
- Each student will be given a customized package of paper exam questions based on the selected courses when enrolled in EE 5960.
The formats of the exams are described below:
Exam 1: For those admitted on or after fall 2021
- Subjects: EE 4630, EE 5020
- Length: 3 hours (1.5 hours for each subject)
- Coding-based
- Students can use a designated lab computer for the code-testing part of the exam.
- Passing: >=70% of correct answers
- Students can only bring in non-electronic materials (class notes, course materials, cheat sheets)
Exam 2: For those who were admitted on or after fall 2021
- Subjects: 2 courses in Category 3, 2 courses in Category 4
- Length: 2.5 hours
- Number of questions to be answered: 6 questions (from at least 3 courses in Categories 3 or 4)
- Passing: >=70% of correct answers
- Students can only bring in non-electronic materials (class notes, course materials, cheat sheets)
Exam 2: For those who were admitted before fall 2021
- Subjects: 2 areas of concentration
- Length: 4 hours (Students need to stay in the room of the comprehensive exam if choosing to take a break during the exam time.)
- Number of Questions to be answered: 8 Questions (4 from each area)
- Students can only bring in non-electronic materials (class notes, course materials, cheat sheets)
- Passing: >=70% of correct answers