How long should each exam take?

Question

anonymous · Answer

I imagine the exams are expected to be completed in the time of a single class period: ~1hr

anonymous · Answer

Somewhere in the materials, probably in the syllabus, it says an hour, but it also says it would be very difficult to finish in an hour. I'm guessing that even among the MIT students, who are among the top math students in the country, very few can complete these exams in an hour. I assume the exam is set up this way intentionally as a way to give the best students among such a talented class a way to distinguish themselves. In any event, don't be discouraged if (a) you can't finish in an hour, and (b) you find the exam wickedly difficult even after preparing well for it. That would be a reflection on the exam, not on your abilities. These are hard tests.