Econ 353: Money, Banking,
and Financial Institutions

General Midterm and Final Exam Information

Last Updated: 28 March 2015
Latest Course Offering: Spring Semester 2011

Course Instructor:
Professor Leigh Tesfatsion
Department of Economics, ISU
https://www2.econ.iastate.edu/tesfatsi/
tesfatsi AT iastate.edu

Office and Office Hours: 375 Heady, Tuesdays, 2:10-3:40pm, and by appointment

Econ 353 Homepage
Practice Exam Site

Spring 2011 Exam Dates

Please Note: Review guides giving required topics and readings will be posted below prior to each midterm and final exam. Reviews from previous years are linked below for general information only.

First Midterm Exam:

Thursday, February 10th, at our regular class meeting time and place.

Spring 2011 First Midterm Exam Review Guide


Second Midterm Exam:

Thursday, March 10th, at our regular class meeting time and place.

Spring 2011 Second Midterm Exam Review Guide


Comprehensive Final Exam:

Monday, May 2, 12-2:00pm, in our regular classroom, in accordance with the Spring 2011 tentative final exam schedule for ISU.

(4/25/2011) Spring 2011 Review Guide for Comprehensive Final Exam

General Exam Policies and Procedures

Econ 353 will have two midterm exams in addition to a comprehensive final exam. The two midterm exams will be held in the section's regular class meeting room during the section's regular class hours (see above for dates). Only the best of a student's two midterm exam scores will be counted as part of his or her overall course score. The final exam for Econ 353 will be held in the section's regular class meeting room at the date and time listed in the university exam schedule appearing in the ISU Bulletin (see above for date/time). The final exam is required for all students, including graduating seniors.

Students should be prepared to show an official photo identification card (e.g, an ISU student ID card) prior to turning in their midterm and final exams. In addition to an official photo ID, each student should also bring a number 2 pencil to the exam room. Bubble sheets will be provided, so students do not need to bring paper or blue books to the exam.

Calculators will not be needed and the use of any electronic device during an exam will not be permitted and will be treated as a potential cheating situation warranting an F (failing) exam grade.

Each exam will be a comprehensive closed-book exam covering all required (**) materials assigned through the last class day prior to the exam day. Each exam will consist of a selection of questions designed to test your ability to think through issues regarding financial markets and financial institutions using basic financial and economic tools and concepts.

Recall that the required on-line html and ppt notes for each required Mishkin chapter focus exclusively on certain identified "basic concepts and key issues," which are listed at the end of the notes. All exam questions will focus on these "basic concepts and key issues." Consequently, the required on-line html and ppt notes indicate which aspects of the required Mishkin chapters will be stressed on the exams.

The required on-line "key in-class discussion questions" for each required Mishkin chapter consist of illustrations and elaborations of the "basic concepts and key issues" listed at the end of the required on-line html notes for that chapter. At least 25 percent of each exam will specifically relate to these on-line "key in-class discussion questions".

As noted above, the second midterm exam will be comprehensive, covering all required (**) materials through the date of the second midterm exam. Nevertheless, stress will be placed on the following materials: (1) new required (**) materials assigned between the first and second midterm exams (many of which require good understanding of definitions and concepts stressed on the first midterm exam); and (2) specific topics on the first midterm exam for which questions were answered poorly by a substantial number of students.

As noted above, the final exam will be comprehensive, covering all required (**) materials through the date of the final exam. Nevertheless, stress will be placed on the following materials: (1) new required (**) materials assigned between the second midterm exam and the final exam (many of which require good understanding of definitions and concepts stressed on the first and second midterm exams): and (2) specific topics on the second midterm exam for which questions were answered poorly by a substantial number of students.

For a more concrete illustration of what to expect on the midterm and final exams, please take a look at the Practice Midterm and Final Exams Site linked both here and at the end of the Econ 353 Syllabus.

Absence either from both midterm exams or from the final exam will result in a grade of zero for these exams unless there are verified extenuating circumstances such as a major medical emergency. In the latter case, if both midterms have been taken, the course grade will be determined on the basis of these two midterm exams plus all take-home exercises. If only one midterm exam has been taken, the student will be given two options: (1) withdraw from the course; or (2) receive an "incomplete" and retake the course in a subsequent semester in which Econ 353 is offered. No special make-up exams will be scheduled.

Cheating will not be tolerated and at a minimum will result in an F grade for the exam in question. Other university sanctions may also be applied.

Important Related Note About Arriving Late for an Exam: As a matter of general policy, I always permit students to keep their exam question sheets with them when they finish one of my exams and leave the exam room. Consequently, if a student arrives so late for an exam that someone receiving the exam has left the room (for any reason), that late student will NOT be permitted to take the exam and their grade for the exam will be zero. Your cooperation in arriving on time for exams will be much appreciated!