Exams are always a challenge. Remote exams for TM354 Software Engineering students can be especially challenging since students are sometimes asked to draw diagrams. Students are asked for diagrams, since diagrams and sketches are important communication tools. Software is invisible, and diagrams represent a useful way of sharing information and design ideas with fellow software engineers.
This short blog posts shares some practical tips when preparing diagrams for your TM354 exam. What is presented here is a set of suggestions. You should pick and choose the ideas that work best for you, and choose an approach that you feel most comfortable with. The biggest and most important point is that you need to be prepared. When you come to take your exam, there should be no surprises.
Understand the types of diagrams
TM354 makes use of a graphical language called the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Make sure you are familiar with the different types of diagrams you might be asked for.
Consider using diagram tools
Since UML is a well known language, there are quite a few tools out there that can help you to produce UML diagrams. It is okay to use a tool to help you to produce a diagram, but before you take an exam, you should have a very good idea about how to use it. You should be able to use it fluently and be confident in using it. You don’t want to be in a situation where you battle with your tools during a timed exam.
Consider creating a template
If you know what types of diagrams you might be asked for, and what tool you might want to use, consider creating a template for every type of diagram that you might use. This isn’t cheating; this is effective preparation. When you need to create a new diagram, open up your template and modify it to meet your needs.
Consider sketching by hand
If you don’t like tools, you can always use pen and paper to create your diagrams. You can even dispense with using a ruler, but they can be pretty useful. You don’t get any marks for neatness (but you do get marks for the expression of ideas within your diagram). When you’ve finished your sketch, you can either take a digital photograph of it, or scan it (if you have access to a digital scanner), and then paste your diagram into your exam script.
Avoid the Word drawing tool
Microsoft Word is a great tool. It offers a lot of useful features, including a drawing tool. Whilst useful for some tasks, the Word drawing tool is useless for creating UML diagrams. A bit of practical advice: avoid it like the plague. You can spend more time on choosing the style of boxes and arrows than communicating the elements of software that are the focus of your question.
Avoid GenAI
This point should be obvious. For some tasks, GenAI may be able to produce diagrams. GenAI doesn’t know what is in the module materials. This means that the diagrams it can create are invariably wrong or incomplete. Don’t use GenAI for assessment tasks unless you’re explicitly asked to do so.
Master your process
If you use a tool to create your diagram, make sure you know how to transfer your diagram to your exam script. If you need to take a screenshot (and you’re using Windows), push the Print Screen button, and crop the image using the Paint application. If you are creating a diagram by hand, make sure you can easily transfer a digital photograph from your phone to your Word document. Figuring out your process can save you time (and a whole lot of stress).
Practice
My final point: creating diagrams is a skill. Find the time to practice. There are a lot of TM354 past papers that can be downloaded from the Open SU shop.
Good luck in your exam!
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to members of the TM354 module team and TM354 module tutors. Thanks are extended to Mike Giddings and Richard Walker.
TM354 Drawing diagrams during an exam
Exams are always a challenge. Remote exams for TM354 Software Engineering students can be especially challenging since students are sometimes asked to draw diagrams. Students are asked for diagrams, since diagrams and sketches are important communication tools. Software is invisible, and diagrams represent a useful way of sharing information and design ideas with fellow software engineers.
This short blog posts shares some practical tips when preparing diagrams for your TM354 exam. What is presented here is a set of suggestions. You should pick and choose the ideas that work best for you, and choose an approach that you feel most comfortable with. The biggest and most important point is that you need to be prepared. When you come to take your exam, there should be no surprises.
Understand the types of diagrams
TM354 makes use of a graphical language called the Unified Modelling Language (UML). Make sure you are familiar with the different types of diagrams you might be asked for.
Consider using diagram tools
Since UML is a well known language, there are quite a few tools out there that can help you to produce UML diagrams. It is okay to use a tool to help you to produce a diagram, but before you take an exam, you should have a very good idea about how to use it. You should be able to use it fluently and be confident in using it. You don’t want to be in a situation where you battle with your tools during a timed exam.
Consider creating a template
If you know what types of diagrams you might be asked for, and what tool you might want to use, consider creating a template for every type of diagram that you might use. This isn’t cheating; this is effective preparation. When you need to create a new diagram, open up your template and modify it to meet your needs.
Consider sketching by hand
If you don’t like tools, you can always use pen and paper to create your diagrams. You can even dispense with using a ruler, but they can be pretty useful. You don’t get any marks for neatness (but you do get marks for the expression of ideas within your diagram). When you’ve finished your sketch, you can either take a digital photograph of it, or scan it (if you have access to a digital scanner), and then paste your diagram into your exam script.
Avoid the Word drawing tool
Microsoft Word is a great tool. It offers a lot of useful features, including a drawing tool. Whilst useful for some tasks, the Word drawing tool is useless for creating UML diagrams. A bit of practical advice: avoid it like the plague. You can spend more time on choosing the style of boxes and arrows than communicating the elements of software that are the focus of your question.
Avoid GenAI
This point should be obvious. For some tasks, GenAI may be able to produce diagrams. GenAI doesn’t know what is in the module materials. This means that the diagrams it can create are invariably wrong or incomplete. Don’t use GenAI for assessment tasks unless you’re explicitly asked to do so.
Master your process
If you use a tool to create your diagram, make sure you know how to transfer your diagram to your exam script. If you need to take a screenshot (and you’re using Windows), push the Print Screen button, and crop the image using the Paint application. If you are creating a diagram by hand, make sure you can easily transfer a digital photograph from your phone to your Word document. Figuring out your process can save you time (and a whole lot of stress).
Practice
My final point: creating diagrams is a skill. Find the time to practice. There are a lot of TM354 past papers that can be downloaded from the Open SU shop.
Good luck in your exam!
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to members of the TM354 module team and TM354 module tutors. Thanks are extended to Mike Giddings and Richard Walker.