Exams will be administered online in Sakai. Duke NetID login required.
Sakai Exam Site includes access to the sample test, calculus exam, statistics exam, announcements and resources.
Sample Test: Students can take the sample test as many times as they wish. Keep in mind, the sample test is designed to get you familiar with using Sakai, and there will be some non-calculus and non-statistics questions included. It is not intended to be a full practice test ahead of the diagnostic exams.
Exam/Testing Window: (Summer) Monday, July 10 at 8:00 AM (ET) – Friday, August 4 at 11:00 PM (ET). Students can take the exams at any time during the testing window. For students finishing their prerequisite courses in August, you will be able to take the diagnostic exams any time between Saturday, August 19 at 8:00 AM (ET) through Wednesday, August 23 at 11:00 PM (ET).
Exam Type/Timing: Each exam will last 1 hour and 15 minutes and close automatically once the time limit is reached. Exams are primarily multiple choice, but there are a few questions where the student will need to write/type in the answer.
Future Testing: Should you fail one or both diagnostic exams, your next opportunity to test will be late-fall 2023. There will be no retesting this summer/during Orientation. (Fall) Monday, December 18 at 8:00 AM (ET) – Friday, January 19 at 11:00 PM (ET). Students can take the exams at any time during the testing window.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
Before taking the exam(s), be sure to read the following information – It is important! You will also find this information in the ‘Announcement’ section on the Sakai site.
Download the Z Table and keep it handy. You will need this table for the Statistics Diagnostic Exam Only.
Do NOT begin the assessment(s) until you’re ready to complete the exam(s). This cannot be overemphasized. There is no way to stop the timer once it starts!
Check your internet connectivity before you begin.
Find a quiet place to take the exam(s); limit distractions as much as possible.
We recommend that you NOT use the Safari browser to take the exam(s). Users have experienced formatting errors with the exam(s) when using this browser.
The exam time will begin as soon as you click on “begin assessment.” The timer will only stop once you submit or when you reach the time limit (1 hour and 15 minutes for each exam). Even if you close your computer or browser or walk away, the timer will continue to run.
Be sure to click on the submit button at the end of each exam. This is important!
Read the “Best Practices for Avoiding Problems in Sakai” which is available in the ‘Resources’ section in Sakai. You can read this document as often as you wish, it will not impact your exam time.
Do NOT use your “web browser’s back button” during the exam. If you need to go back to the previous page, use the previous button.
Take the sample test to check your internet connectivity and to make sure that you know how to navigate Sakai. You can take the sample test as often as you want, it will not impact your exam time nor final exam scores.
Make sure you have a copy of the Z table open and available during the statistics diagnostic exam. This is important – you will need the Z table for the statistics diagnostic exam! A copy of the Z Table has been linked here and made available in the ‘Resource’ section in Sakai.
We will try as best as possible to get all exam scores out before Orientation begins.
Write down the phone number to the technical support team and keep it handy in case you need it during the test. The timer will not stop for technical issues so be sure to check your internet connectivity before you start because most often tech issues are related to internet connectivity or lack thereof. Call the Office of Information Technology (OIT) at 919-684-2200 or connect to their Live Chat at https://oit.duke.edu/help. Monday – Thursday 24 hours, Fridays 12:00am – 5:00pm & Sundays 3:00pm – 12:00am.
EXAM RULES
Before taking the exam(s), be sure to read the following information – It is important! You will also find this information in the ‘Announcements’ section on the Sakai site.
Both exams are closed-book and closed notes. You are not permitted to use books, notes, other exams or calculators during the exams
Exams are primarily multiple choice
You will not need a calculator for the exams and you are NOT permitted to use a calculator
You will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete each exam
You will need a copy of the Z Table during the statistics diagnostic exam; open a copy before the exam; see the ‘Resources’ section in Sakai
The exam software in Sakai will automatically close when you reach the time limit for each test or after you submit
Do not start the exam(s) until you’re ready to complete it; remember it’s timed!
You should save your answers frequently throughout the exam so that you do not lose your work
You are NOT permitted to confer or consult with other students, people or sources during or after you’ve taken the exam(s)
EXAM HELP
Study materials are available at the Onboarding Resource website and videos available in the Virtual Library. In addition to the review materials, Chris Kilner, PhD student, University Program in Ecology, Nicholas School, will hold review sessions to help students prepare for the diagnostic exams. After the review sessions, feel free to send questions to: christopher.kilner@duke.edu.
ACCESS SAKAI EXAM SITE
Although all new students will have access to the Sakai site, only students who have demonstrated successful completion of the calculus and statistics prerequisites will receive access to the diagnostic exam(s). Therefore, if you have not met the prerequisites in time to take the exams this summer, your next opportunity to test will be late-fall 2023.
Access to the Sakai Diagnostic Exam site will be granted closer to the start of the testing period.
If you do not see the diagnostic exam(s) in the Sakai site, it is because we have not received proof that you have completed the calculus and statistics prerequisites. If you plan to finish one or both prerequisites around during the testing window, please send proof of your status in the course to nsoe-registrar@duke.edu. We need to see that you are on track to earn a grade of at least C- or better, a passing grade or proof that you are on track to successfully complete a non-graded course. When your course(s) ends, you will still need to submit proof of completion.
Late Testing: For students who do not take the exams during the summer, there will be a testing window available in late-August. However, if you have already completed the calculus and statistics prerequisites, we encourage you to take the exams during the earlier summer exam window. It will be one less thing to worry about during Orientation Week.