1. CSE255 Final Exam Advice and Hints
Prof. Steven A. Demurjian, Sr.
Computer Science & Engineering Department
The University of Connecticut
191 Auditorium Road, Box U-155
Storrs, CT
(860)

2. Hints for Taking Exam Read the Questions Carefully!
Ask Questions if you are Confused!
Answer Questions in Any Order
Organized to fit on minimum number of pages
Answer “Easiest” questions for you!
Assess Points per Time Unit
120 minutes = 120 points
20 points = 20 minutes
For Essay/Short Answer Questions - Length Answer Matches Points
5 points = 1/4 page = 3 or 4 sentences
30 points - if 1/4 page - likely few points!
Exam Designed to be Longer than 120 Minutes!

3. Hints for Taking Exam Don't Define Concepts
E.G., Ask About Concept X, Don't Explain Concept X, Just Answer the Question and I'll Know If You Know Concept X
Don't Panic, Read and Review Course Materials Prior to Exam!
Don't Be Afraid to Not Answer a Question
60% Correct for 100 Points = 60 Points
90% Correct F0r 80 Points = 72 Points
Partial Credit Is the Norm
If I Ask You to Pick and Analyze a Concept - for a 5 Pt Problem You Get 1 for the Concept and 4 for the Analysis.

4. Chapter 14 Covered Topics Include … Slides 46-107 in cse255chap14.pps
First, Second, and Third Normal Forms
Understanding the Objectives of Normalization Process
No Questions on …
FDs - but you must understand what FDs in Order to Answer Questions on Normal Forms

5. Chapters 17 and 18 Chapter 17 - System Catalog What is it?
How is it Used?
Chapter 18 - Query Optimization in RDBMS
High-level Query Optimization (Algebraic)
NO QUESTIONS ON
Low-level Query Optimization (Cost-based)
Slides 15-20
MBDS
Slides

6. Chapters 19 and 20 Chapter 19 - Transaction Processing
Concurrency Control
Data Consistency Problems
Schedules and Serializability
Chapter 20 - Concurrency Control
Three Different Locking-Based Algorithms
2 Phase Protocol
Deadlock and Livelock
Optimistic Concurrency Control
FOCUS ON NOTES RATHER THAN TEXTBOOK
NO QUESTIONS ON:
OS Synchronization

7. Chapters 21 and 22 Chapter 21: Database Recovery
Alternative UNDO/REDO Approaches
Checkpointing and Shadow Paging
Chapter 22: Database Security
Security Glossary and Important Security Concepts
DAC, MAC, Cryptography
Security in Statistical Databases
NO QUESTIONS ON:
Java Security/OS Security/RBAC

8. Chapters 24 and 27 Chapter 24: Distributed DBMS
Goals, Objectives, and Approaches of DDBMS
Fragmentation, Replication, Federation
Chapter 27: Web-Based DB Architectures
Role of Web in Architecture, Usage, Interoperation
Different DB Interaction Styles
Long-Term/Open Issues
No questions on Data Mining (Chapter 26)

9. Possible Questions Open Notes and Open Book
6-8 Total Questions - Follow Instructions!
Possibilities…
Constructive and Algorithm Questions
Normalization, QO, PCC (Alg. 2 and 3), OCC (Alg. 4)
Design Questions Related to
Recovery, Security, Concurrency
DB Architectures (DDBMS, Web)
DB Querying (Traditional, Programmatic, Mining)
Focus on UConn-XCHG/Applicability of Concepts
Know your Algorithms and Constructs
Show All Work to Receive Partial (Any) Credit
Do Not Jump to Final Answer
Avoid Run-on Explanations