Frequently Asked Questions#
I will be absent on a specific day. Are you recording the lectures?#
No, we don’t record the in-class sessions. The in-class activities — including discussions, live demos, and quizzes - are designed for students who are present and actively participating. If you’re absent on a specific day, you’ll miss out on those parts, even if you have a valid reason.
While you should prioritize attending the live activities, you can still keep up with the course if you can’t attend every week. For the days you can’t be there, make sure to complete the exercises outside of the classroom. You can still get help from the TAs online on Ed.
Can I take this course without attending the lectures?#
There is no classical lecturing in this course. In-class activities are designed to encourage students to practice programming regularly, at a steady pace, and to get feedback from peers and teachers. We also share tips and tricks and explain the motivation behind new programming concepts.
You can take the course without participating in these activities. All course materials are available on the course website, and you can ask questions on Ed. If you choose not to attend the in-class activities, make sure to practice programming regularly on your own.
I have extra time for exams. Can I get special support for the quizzes?#
According to DTU rules, an activity contributing less than 20% to the grade is considered minor, and special conditions do not apply. However, depending on your individual situation, we can agree to adjust your final quiz score after the course is finished. Please contact us while the course is still running.
I switched study line. Where to sit?#
You should go to the room that corresponds to your current study line.
How can I tell how well I did on the in-class quiz?#
On DTU Learn, click on “Quiz Submission” then “Grades”. There, you can see whether you passed the quiz or not.
Can I use AI tools in this course?#
You are allowed to use any resources, including AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini, to help you learn programming. We have provided a few guidelines on how to use AI for programming on our How to AI programming? page.
However, AI tools are not allowed during the exam.
Can I take the course in another course period?#
No, the course is only offered in the fall.
When and where is the exam?#
The exam date is set according to the DTU exam schedule, where you should search by course number (02002 or 02003).
The specific location and time will be announced at least one week before the exam period and can be found in the exam plan. The study administration makes the exam schedule, and course teachers receive it at the same time as students. Therefore, we cannot provide this information earlier.
What does the exam look like? How is it assessed?#
The exam will be similar to the Previous exams. The exam consists of 10 programming problems that cover the entire course. Typically, each problem corresponds to a week’s topic, but this isn’t a strict rule, and problems are presented in no particular order.
For each problem, we provide one or more tests to help you verify your solution. However, you are responsible for ensuring your solution works correctly for all valid inputs, not just the provided tests. For example, if you are asked to write a function called make_double
which takes a number and returns double that number, we might give you a test checking whether your function make_double(-1.2)
returns -2.4
. Your function should work correctly for any number, not just -1.2
.
We have more information about the exam in our Course Policies section.
Can I use the internet at the exam?#
No, you cannot use the internet during the exam. You are still allowed to access all files on your computer. At the end of the semester, we will provide you with a file containing the course website (preparation and in-class exercises for all weeks) that you can download.
If you want to access other resources, for example, the book, you should download them in advance.
Should I hand in files with tests?#
No. You should submit files containing only the code that solves the problem as specified in the task formulation, and nothing more.
We cannot provide you with an extensive list of what you should not do, but for example, your script should not print anything unless the problem specifically asks you to do so.
Likewise, for example, if the task states that an argument is an integer, you do not need to check if it is.
Are comments graded in the exam?#
Your solutions are only assessed based on their correctness, and therefore, comments do not affect your grade.
What if I have a typo in a solution?#
If your solution contains a typo or a small error that prevents it from passing some or all tests, your score will still be purely based on how many tests your solution passes.
We look at students’ submitted code, but we will not fix any errors in your code, regardless of how minor they may seem.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you hand in a working solution. The provided tests let you check for obvious errors before submitting.
What if I fail the exam?#
The exam is held twice a year, in the Ordinary Winter exam period (December) and in the Ordinary Summer exam and re-exam period (usually late May), as long as the course is offered.
You should decide whether you:
want to retake the course and take the re-exam in winter, with the other students taking the ordinary exam.
do not want to retake the course and only take the re-exam in winter or summer.
If you wish to retake the course, you should enroll in the course using the study planner, which also signs you up for the exam.
If you only wish to retake the exam, you should register via the exam registration page.
What to choose? We suggest taking the first possible reexam. More specifically, we suggest:
We suggest you sign up for the summer exam via the exam registration page. You should also check the exam registration deadlines.
We suggest retaking the course in the fall if possible, even if you can only attend a few weeks. You retake the course by enrolling again using the study planner. Enrolling will also sign you up for the winter exam.
If you do not have time to physically attend the course again in any week, we suggest that you sign up for the winter exam directly via the exam registration page and check the exam registration deadlines. In this case, once the semester has started, we suggest you write to programmering@compute.dtu.dk, asking us to add you to DTU Learn. Being added to DTU Learn will allow you view any announcements and submit voluntary hand-ins. It will not sign you up for the exam. Please specify whether you would like to be added to 02002 or 02003 when you contact us.
Any bonus points you earn under either option count as if you were taking the course for the first time and are valid as described in the Course Policies.
Can you register/withdraw me for the course/exam?#
No, we cannot.
Teachers cannot register or withdraw students from the course - students must do this via the study planner or with help from the study administration. Teachers cannot register or withdraw students from the exam - students must do this via the exam registration pages or with assistance from the study administration. Teachers can see the list of students registered for the course and the exam, so we can check whether your registration was successful, but you can check that yourself in the study planner (for the courses) and in exam registration pages (for the exam)
I love programming! Can I be a TA?#
We’d love to have you on the team! Check our TA and Class Teacher Positions page for more information on how to apply.
My question wasn’t answered here. What should I do?#
Is the question of interest to others? If so, please ask it on Ed. If it is a personal question, please write to programmering@compute.dtu.dk.