Writting Exams in the Gym FAQ
How long is this going to take?
It's a sad fact, but you will be there for the entire three hours.
Don't worry, it goes by really fast.
The long painful part is actually studying for the test.
Where is the gym?
The gym is found in the McKinnon building. It is right behind the
bookstore. Do not get this confused with the gym in the Ian Stewart
Complex; or you will look really dumb.
What do I need to bring?
Bring a mechanical pencil, calculator and a good eraser (a big one).
You will also need your student card. Besides those, I also recommend
you bring a water bottle and a small snack, like a cookie or chocolate
bar.
Am I allowed a calculator?
This depends on your teacher. So I cannot give you a definite answer.
However, from personal experience, it seems that most first and second
year math classes do not allow their use. Still, I recommend that you
bring a calculator no matter what! This way, you are prepared for
anything.
Why do I need my student card?
Halfway through the exam someone (usually your teacher) will make sure
you are who you say you are. They do this with a class list and your
student card. As long as you look like the person on the student card,
and the name on the student card is registered in the class, you're
fine.
I am bringing my backpack, is that a problem?
Nope, no problem. But, you will not be able to have you backpack beside
you. Instead everyone puts their stuff up in a huge 'Pile O Chaos' in
front of their row. Needless to say, you'd be better off not having
breakables in there.
How early should I show up?
Obviously a matter of personal preference. What has worked good for me
is to show up at the school half an hour early. Then I waste the next
fifteen minutes (chase rabbits). Fifteen minutes before the exam I will
cruise over to the McKinnon building and wait.
Where do I wait in McKinnon?
You will not be allowed into the gym until about ten or five minutes
before the exam begins. In the mean time you are best to stay upstairs
in the lounge and talk with friends. But, don't talk about math; you
will go nuts. Instead, try to keep you cool. Do this by quietly making
fun of others who are stressing out.
What will I find in the gym?
Many people are simply amazed when they write their first exam in the
gym. Inside, you will find around 800 desks. They are arranged in an
array 40 long and 20 deep. It really is an impressive sight.
Am I going to have enough space?
Space is no problem, the desks are bigger then the ones you had in high
school.
800 people in a single room. Gets kinda noisy I'll bet.
And you'd be wrong. It's actually one of the quietest places to write
an exam. Some people think it's because of all that concrete; those
people are engineers. The rest of us don't care why.
Is there a clock in the gym?
Yes, there are two clocks. Consequently, if you are in rows 1-15 or
25-40 you should have no problem figuring out what the time is. If you
are in the middle rows 16-24, prepare for major squinting, or maybe you
should just bring a watch.
Three hours! Can I go to the bathroom?
You sure can shooter, the closest one is in the change rooms. The guys
change room is to the left of the information booth, the ladies head to
the right. The change rooms themselves are fairly big. Hunt around a
bit and you will find the apparatus.
What kind of questions are going to be on the test?
Why not have a look at some old exams? We sell these with complete
solutions about two weeks before the end of term (that's fall and
spring kids, service not offered in the summer). While these likely
wont be the exact questions on your test, they should be very similar. Push here to
see what classes we have in stock, and their prices.
What I do after I finish writing the exam?
There seem to be two popular options. The first being to head straight
home and study for your next exam. Alternatively, many people find
comfort in a bottle. The closest bar can be found in the SUB, next to
that place that sells the greasy pizza.
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