Subj : Re: Auto-grading aptitude tests To : comp.programming,comp.software-eng From : gds Date : Wed Aug 24 2005 03:06 am Ben Pfaff wrote: >rem642b@Yahoo.Com (Robert Maas, see http://tinyurl.com/uh3t) writes: >> Suppose the computer-run test was truly interactive, where the >> applicant could fill in something, then the program would check it and >> discard the parts that don't fit the desired pattern, and give one free >> letter as a clue what's missing, and then the applicant would get >> another chance, etc. as many clues as needed until the applicant gets >> the correct answer? >I'd like to buy a vowel. Actually, I had a queueing theory professor (Kleinrock) who allowed students to buy part of an answer for a few exam points. The idea was rather than having the student be stuck, giving the student a bit of assistance would help the student complete the rest of the exam question. Is there some reason why this type of assistance should not be available in testing software engineers? Especially since in jobs, software engineers don't operate in vacuums; they consult man pages, help pages, web pages, even other software engineers for assistance in solving problems. If it's cheating you're worried about, ask them to take the exam in person at a site of your choosing. --gregbo gds at best dot com .