I'm fairly new to programming, but it is a pain to write a coding EXAM. Being a high school student, I completed an APCS course this year. However, in one day I had both AP english and APCS exams: that's a lot of writing and pain. And eraser dust. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy programming, and often write my code by hand first, simply because it helps me think better. Someone suggested not using an IDE as well as some other solutions... But, in a class, especially for beginners, it often seems that what the instructor uses, you use. And honestly, I have a hard time designing algorithms for my programs. I'm lucky. I sit, type, and voila, a functioning program with maybe 10 errors. I guess if you're inspired, or have had ample time to consider to consider the problem, then writing is doable. But when it comes to exams with extensive coding sections, writing will underestimate skill.
Slashdot Mirror
I'm fairly new to programming, but it is a pain to write a coding EXAM. Being a high school student, I completed an APCS course this year. However, in one day I had both AP english and APCS exams: that's a lot of writing and pain. And eraser dust. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy programming, and often write my code by hand first, simply because it helps me think better. Someone suggested not using an IDE as well as some other solutions... But, in a class, especially for beginners, it often seems that what the instructor uses, you use. And honestly, I have a hard time designing algorithms for my programs. I'm lucky. I sit, type, and voila, a functioning program with maybe 10 errors. I guess if you're inspired, or have had ample time to consider to consider the problem, then writing is doable. But when it comes to exams with extensive coding sections, writing will underestimate skill.