Assessments (Quizzes, Tests, and Exams)

The online self-paced courses can be delivered in a self-paced format because the quizzes, tests, and exams are all linked as shown in the assessment flow diagram. The chapter posttests are not available until the chapter quizzes are submitted. Chapter exams are not available until the chapter posttest has been passed.

The quizzes in the next chapter are not availble until the previous chapter exam has been passed.
To access a quiz, test, or exam, go to the Assessments link in Course Tools. If the assessment you seek is not listed, you have not completed the prerequisite assessments.
Course Quiz
The linked assessments starts with the Course Quiz. This quiz tests your knowledge of how the course works. Study the Syllabus, Orientation, and Essentials (Math 95) to prepare for the quiz. A passing score is 27 out of 30. You may retake the quiz as necesary. Passing the Course Quiz is required to take the quizzes in the first chapter.
Section Quizzes
Section quizzes become available after you pass the chapter exam in the previous chapter. In the case of the first chapter (chapter 2 in Math 95), the quizzes become available after you pass the Course Quiz. Section quizzes count toward your course grade. You must complete and submit all section quizzes in a chapter to unlock the Chapter posttest. Section quizzes can be taken once and may not be repeated.
Chapter Posttests
Chapter posttests become available after you complete the chapter quizzes. Chapter posttests do not count toward your grade, but you must score 70% or better on the chapter posttest to take the chapter exam. The posttests are randomized so that you see different problems each time you take them. You can retake chapter posttests an unlimited number of times. The posttests are a great study aid for the final exam.
Chapter Exams
Chapter exams are not available until you complete the quizzes and score 70% or better on the chapter posttest. Chapter exams may only be repeated if you score less than 70%. You must pass the chapter exam to unlock the quizzes in the next chapter. You can use a calculator, notes, text and other reference materials on a chapter exam. Just keep in mind that the final exam is what matters and none of these resources will be available to you on the final. All the knowledge you need must be stored in your long-term memory by the time you take the final exam.
Pretests
Chapter pretests do not count toward your grade and they are not part of the assessment cycle. They are for your own practice. In combination with practice problems, they can help you drill the concepts and techniques into your long term memory. Chapter pretests are always available and you can take them an unlimited number of times. Pretests are not randomized, except for the order of multiple choice alternatives.
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Attendance & Withdrawal
Attendance
For those students who cannot attend during Math Center hours, or find it difficult to come to campus, online self-paced open-entry classes are a possible alternative. Attendance is tracked by the WebCT system, which is available 24/7 from anywhere with Internet access. You are expected to log in at least 10 to 15 hours per week. Logging in on a regular basis is the key to success in an online course. The only time the student is required to come to campus is for the final exam, hosted in the Math Center.
Withdrawal
You will be withdrawn from the course if you do not log in at least 5 hours per week or longer without prior arrangements with your instructor, or if you do not purchase the required access code. If you are dropped from the course, all your assessment records (quizzes, tests, and exams) will be purged. Your instructor can reinstate you, but you will start from the beginning of the course. If you wish to withdraw from the course, make sure you do so before the withdrawal deadline, or you will receive a grade for the course. The withdrawal deadline is usually in January for a course starting in the Fall semester. The withdrawal deadline is usually in July for a course starting in the Spring semester. Check with your instructor for specific dates.
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Classroom Netiquette
Student Conduct
Students in an online course form a close-knit learning community. Messages posted on the discussion board are visible by all students in the course. Please be respectful of other students. Note that kidding around, flirting, or poking fun at other students is strongly discouraged. It is just too easy to unintentionally offend someone who may misinterpret your written message. So, post messages and emails thoughtfully.
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Courses Offered
Math 95 - Elementary Algebra and Geometry, self-paced and online
Math 96 - Intermediate Algebra and Geometryy, self-paced and online
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Final Exam Procedures
On Campus
The final exam is given on campus in the Math Center. You will need to contact your instructor who will verify that you completed all the exams and arrange for an exam to be prepared for you. Allow two days for this process. Contact the Math Center at 619 388-3580 to verify that your exam is ready. Tests are filed by instructor name and course CRN. Take the final in T-208.
Bring your current CSID (College Student Identification) card. No ID card, means no final exam. Obtain your City College student ID from the Admissions Office.
No calculator, notes, or textbook are allowed on the final exam. Scratch paper will be provided.Off Campus
If you are unable to come to City College for the final exam, you can arrange to have it proctored at a location near you. You must allow a minimum of four weeks for arrangements between your instructor and the test proctor before you can take a proctored final exam. So, if you are thinking about this option, contact your instructor as soon as possible to start the process. The longer you wait, the longer it will be until you can take the final. All proctors must be approved by your instructor and the Math Department. Typical proctors are college professors, librarians, and professional proctors at certified testing centers. Students pay for all proctoring services.
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Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid may get reimbursed for the cost of the access code if they buy it at the City College bookstore instead of online. Students should contact the Financial Aid office for details.
Even though these courses span more than one semester, they only count as one semester toward your Financial Aid course load. Students receiving financial aid are advised to finish the self-paced courses in one semester.
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Grading Procedures
Course Grade
Your course grade is based on total points. For example, in the Math 95 course, the chapter exams count about 50% of the course grade, the final exam counts about 23% of the course grade, and the quizzes count about 27% of your course grade. The letter grades are assigned in the usual 10% increments, 90% for an A, 80% for a B, 70% for a C, and 60% for a D.
Points for all assessments including quizzes, posttests, and chapter exams are in My Grades in the course.
Grade Adjustment
In addition to earning the required number of points to pass the course, you must obtain a minimum score of 36 out of 60 on the departmental final exam. This is Math Department policy. If you score 35 or less on the final, you will not pass the course, regardless of your total points. So, make sure you allow adequate time to prepare for the final exam. The instructor reserves the right to adjust your final grade up or down a maximum of 2% based on class participation and extra credit. You can earn extra credit by posting step-by-step solutions of problems posed by other students to the discussion board, alerting the tutors and professor of potential errors in the course material, and participating in Chat sessions with tutors. You can earn negative credit by posting messages that are offensive or inappropriate, posting messages about course issues that are already documented in Essentials, or posting solutions to problems on quizzes or chapter exams.
Credit/No credit
If you submit a petition to the Admissions office for a credit/no credit grade before the deadline listed in the schedule of classes, the letter grade you receive will be converted to a credit or no credit grade. See the City College Catalog for more information on credit/no credit grades.
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Homework
Homework is where you pay your dues to commit problem solving techniques to long term memory in preparation for the final exam. In every section of every chapter, there is a set of practice problems as a PDF document that you can print, with or without answers. Your primary homework assignment is to do all the practice problems for each chapter and take the chapter pretest at least once. You can also use any Algebra textbook as a source of additional practice problems as well as the links in Essentials and Student Tools to other online tutorials. Homework is not graded, but ask any professional athlete; practice is where you prepare to shine on game day.
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How to Approach a Self-Paced course
Although the online self-paced courses offer marvelous flexibility in access, scheduling and pacing, many well-intentioned students find that they are not prepared for the demands of these formats. Success in an online self-paced course requires strong doses of the following personal characteristics: Self-Motivation
You must be highly motivated and able to learn on your own to succeed in this course. Otherwise, you may find yourself falling behind in attendance and eventually being dropped from the course. Self-Discipline
It takes a lot of self-discipline to log in regularly when you are given so much flexibility. It is easy to forget about an online course. It takes a disciplined student to set up a regular schedule and stick to that schedule.
Good Time-Management Skills
It requires a great deal of time-management skill for most students to find a minimum of ten to fifteen hours per week in their busy schedules for studying math. You may have to give up or cut back on some social or recreational activities, hire a baby-sitter, get help from your friends and family, or simply be more tenacious about setting a schedule and sticking to it. If you are determined to finish this course in one semester, you need to find a way to make it happen.
Good Reading Skills
A self-paced course puts a heavy demand on your reading and comprehension skills. A large portion of your learning will come from reading the lessons, working practice problems, and taking assessments online. You will need to active check the announcements and the discussion board.
Solid Internet connection and functional computer
Online students are also required to maintain a functional computer and obtain reliable online access.
Self-paced online courses are not for everyone. If any of these skills are not already part of your personal strengths, then you should consider taking the course in a lecture format or coming back when you are better prepared. On the other hand, if you do have these skills and you are ready for a challenge, then read on.
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How to Enroll in an Online Math 95 or 96 course
Click here to see Registration process for Online self-paced courses

Learning Resources
There are a wide variety of learning materials to choose from: printable chapter lessons, printable practice problems, overview sheets, video lessons, video presentations of solutions, unlimited randomly-generated practice problems, online tutors, discussion boards, chat rooms and links to useful sites - all available online at anytime. In addition, online self-paced students have access to the tutorial software, videos, and tutors in the Math Center. You can even access your online course using the Math Center computers. Keep in mind that the Math Center computers have restricted access, so that you won't be able to your email or other Internet sites.
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Mastery Learning
Online self-paced classes are based on mastery learning; a student must master the topics in each chapter before moving on to the next chapter. A minimum of 70% correct is required on each chapter posttest to take the chapter exam. Students may retake a posttest as many times as desired to reinforce the material. A minimum of 70% correct is required on each chapter exam before moving on to the next chapter. Students may retake the chapter exams until a score of 70% or more is achieved.
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Open-Entry
“Open-entry” means students can add the class anytime in the semester, well after the add deadline for full semester courses. Thus, students that are unable to add a traditional lecture or online course because it is past the add deadline or the class is full can still add an online math course. If it is after the add deadline, students must contact the instructor for an add-code.
Students may also transfer to a self-paced class from a traditional course. The course fee is transferrable if the transfer is completed before the withdrawal deadline of the traditional course. The course materials are not transferrable; students must purchase the required access code.
The Math Center classes are also open-exit, meaning that students are done with the course as soon as they complete the final exam.
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Prerequisites
To enter an online self-paced course, students must have finished the corresponding prerequisites. For example, a math level of M30 is required to take a Math 95 course. Unlike the on-campus Math Center courses, students do not have to pass an add-code test to enter the course.
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Refund Policy for Access Code
No refund will be given if an access code has been used. If the access code has not been used, a 90% refund will be given if requested within 10 calendar days of the purchase date (there is a 10% processing fee). No refund will be given if requested after 10 calendar days from the purchase date-even if the access key has not been used. Call Content on Demand at (858) 618-4705 to request a refund.
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Refund Policy for Registration Fee
The deadline to drop and be eligible for refund of enrollment fees and/or nonresident tuition is available in the schedule at the top of this Web page and for each course in the online district class schedule (click the Details icon).
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Required Course Materials
The online self-paced courses (Math 95 or Math 96) are 5 unit courses. The registration cost is $100. No textbook is required, but an access code must be purchased. You can request temporary access for 15 days when you first login to the course. After that, an access code is required.
The access code is:
$69.95 if purchased online from Content On Demand. See the online syllabus for purchase details.
$80.00 if purchased from the campus bookstore.
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Self-Paced
For those students who cannot attend during Math Center hours, or find it difficult to come to campus, online self-paced open-entry classes are a convenient alternative. The online classes are offered through WebCT Vista and is available 24/7 from anywhere with Internet access. The only time a student is required to come to campus is for the final exam, hosted in the Math Center.
The self-paced aspect of Math Center courses means that a student can take as much - or as little
- time as needed for a particular subject within reason. In conventional classes, there is a fixed time frame for each chapter and students who do poorly in the chapter are forced to move onto the next chapter before building a proper foundation. In the Math Center, each student sets their own pace. You can finish the course in a few weeks, or extend it into another semester if you need extra time. For students with math anxiety, or those who find math challenging, the extra time gives them a chance to complete a course that would otherwise be unattainable. For example, a student who enrolls in a Math Center course in February will have until early December to finish the course.
There are two time constraints in the self-paced courses. One - you must finish at least four chapters by the end of the first semester that you join the class. Two - You must pass all chapter exams and the final exam prior to the end date of the course. See the schedule above for course start and end dates.
No incomplete grades are issued except in rare circumstances.
The self-paced nature of these classes is also a boon for students who excel in math or just need a refresher. It provides an opportunity for these students to finish their math requirements quickly. Some students complete two classes in one semester.
**Lack of Progress:
You must complete a minimum four chapters prior to the last day of semester that you receive your addcode, regardless of when you receive your addcode during the semester. If you do not complete a minimum of four chapters, you will be dropped for lack of progress.
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Step-by-step Self-Paced Process
Start up process. To get started in this course, click on the Assignments link in the Course Tools menu on the homepage, and complete the First Assignment. This assignment will familiarize you with how the course works and the resources available to you. The last step of the assignment is to pass the Course Quiz to make sure that you fully understand how the course works. None of the meaningful assessments (Chapter quizzes, posttests, or exams) are available until you pass the Course Quiz.
Overview and Pretest. Click on Learning Modules (Course Tools menu), then the chapter that you wish to study. Use the Table of Contents to read the chapter overview and take the chapter pretest (also in Assessments). The pretest is optional, but it will provide you with a good baseline for what you know before you start studying.
Study the Lesson. Click on the Section link in the Table of contents to take you to the section page. From this page, you can view the lesson, a video presentation of the lesson, practice problems and answers, video of worked out solutions for selected problems, randomly generated practice problems, and a review sheet. Start by studying the lesson. You can view it online or print the lesson.
Practice. Math is an active sport. It takes lots of practice to acquire new skills and more importantly store them in your long term memory. Students who do not pass the final exam (and therefore have to repeat the course) are usually the same students who do not invest enough time practicing. Work every practice problem at least once. Check your answers and solutions. There are worked out solutions on the practice answers PDF document as well as some video solutions. If you need more practice (you do), click the random set link.
Study the review sheet.
Take the section quiz. Note that the section quiz will not be visible until you pass the Course Quiz or the Chapter Exam from the previous chapter. Also note that the section quizzes are not timed and that you can save your answer without submitting the quiz. So, you can start a quiz, save it for later, study some more, then pick up where you left off. Once you submit the quiz, you can view your answers and the correct answers, but you can't make any changes.
Pass the Posttest. Once you submit all the chapter quizzes, the posttest will become available. The Posttest is a great study tool. It doesn't count toward your grade, but you must score at least 70% to move on to the Chapter Exam. You can retake the Posttest as many times as you want and view your answers. Since the problems are randomly generated, you can learn a lot from retaking the posttest without any grade penalty.
Pass the Chapter Exam. The chapter exam becomes available once you pass the chapter posttest. When you submit the chapter exam, you can view your total score, but not the individual problems or answers. You can retake the chapter exam until you score 70% or more. The quizzes in the next chapter are not available until you pass the chapter exam.
Final Exam. Move on to the next chapter. When you pass the Chapter 10 exam, email your instructor to arrange for a final exam. The final exam will be placed in the Math Center to be taken at your convenience.
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Syllabus
A sample syllabus for each online course can be viewed from here.
Math 95 Syllabus
Math 96 Syllabus

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Testing Procedures
All assessments except for the final exam are taken online in the WebCT Vista online course. Some of the assessments (Pretest, Posttest, and Chapter Exam) are timed; Section quizzes are not timed. For quizzes, you can enter several answers, save your work, log out, then return another time and pick up right where you left off. Just don't click [Submit] until you are completly done. Once you click [Submit], the assessment is submitted and you can't make any changes. Timed tests work the same, although the clock keeps running if you log out.
The section quizzes can only be taken once. The pretests and posttests can be taken as many times as you want. The chapter exams can be retaken until you score at least 70%.
Since the assessments are online, you can use any resource at your disposal - the lessons, notes, homework, math Websites, a calculator, even another person. But keep this in mind. To pass the course, you must earn a passing grade on the final exam. You will be identified by the photo on your current student ID card, and you take the final without notes or a calculator. So in the end, you will need to learn the material well enough that you can correctly solve at least 36 out of 60 problems in two hours.
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Tutors
Trained online tutors are available in the online courses. The tutors are there to help you, but it is up to you to contact them if you are having difficulty. Many times you will find that online contact with a tutor can help clear up difficulties that could take you up to hours on your own. If the "Who's Online" tab is available, you may check to see if a tutor is online. You may receive assistance by posting questions on the discussion board or by sending the tutor an email message. The tutor will respond as soon as possible. You may set up an online chat with a tutor at a mutually agreeable time.
On campus tutoring is available in the Math Center if you prefer face-to-face tutoring. The Math Center hours and location are listed on the home page of this Website. Bring your CSID to the Math Center. The staff will ask for a tutorial referral code. Use the CRN of your online course followed by four zeros. So, the referral code for CRN 49165 is 491650000.
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Veterans
The Veterans Administration will not pay for this self-paced course due to the extended time frame. You are still welcome to take this course, but you'll have to pay for it yourself.
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Who can benefit from Online Self-Paced Courses?
Students who would normally have to drop because of schedule problems.
Students who cannot enter a lecture or other online course.
Students who want more time to absorb the material.
Students who want to finish quickly.
Students who do not do well in a lecture format.
Students who are very self-disciplined and can keep their own schedule.
Students with reliable Internet access
Students who can learn through an online class.
Students who find it difficult to come to campus.
Students who have to study around a busy work schedule.
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