1COMP 3331/9331:
Computer Networks and
Applications
Mid-Term Exam Review
T1, 2024
2Exam Specifics
• Tuesday, 26th March (Week 7) at regular lecture time (09:00 – 11:00)
• Marks: 20 marks (towards your final mark)
• Online Inspera Exam (linked through Moodle)
• Precise Time: 09:15 – 10:30 (75 minutes), no separate reading time
• Answer all questions, each question has different marks as noted. No negative
marking (minimum mark on any question is zero)
• No new lecture content will be covered on that day
• Open book, notes. You may use calculators
• Recommendation: Download lecture notes, homework sets and any other resources
from WebCMS to your machine to avoid overloading the WebCMS server
• You may join the Zoom Meeting (link posted on Midterm Exam page)
• Ask any questions you may have in the chat
• DO NOT turn on your microphone
• Check mid-term exam page on website
• ELS Students: Your exam will be configured to run for a duration as per your
requirements. The start time will be the same (09:15)
Key topics: Introduction (Weeks 1 & 2)
• Packet Switching/Circuit Switching
• Delay, Loss, Throughput
• Protocol Layering
• Excluded
• Won’t ask you to work through complex probability
computations but there may be questions on basic probability
• Physical media
• Networks under attack: security
• History
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Key topics: Applications (Week 2 & 3)
• Principles
• Web/HTTP
• E-mail (SMTP only)
• DNS
• P2P, BitTorrent
• Video Streaming and CDN
• Excluded
• HTTPS (secure HTTP)
• HTTP/2
• IMAP, POP
• DNSSEC, DNS over TLS, DNS over HTTP
• Socket Programming
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Key topics: Transport Layer (Weeks 4 & 5)
• Principles
• Sockets (Multiplexing/Demultiplexing)
• UDP
• Reliable Data Transfer concepts: RDT (1.0 to 3.0),
GBN, SR
• TCP: Everything that we covered
• Excluded
• QUIC, HTTP/3
• Complex checksum computations (simplified
calculations could be included)
• Congestion Control: Principles and TCP Congestion
Control algorithm (we leave this for this final exam) 5
Other Exclusions
• No programming related questions
• No questions that ask you to use the tools from the
lab exercises such as traceroute, ping, dig,
Wireshark, etc.
• However, you may be shown output from
execution of these tools and ask you questions to
explain the observations.
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• A limited number of multiple-choice questions
• A few short answer questions
• 2-4 sentences
• Some questions that may require more elaborate
explanations
• Show intermediate work/steps if relevant (unless
told not to)
• Not a memory (or cut-paste) test, questions will
examine your understanding of concepts
• Tests your critical analysis skills
• Tests whether you can apply the concepts in a
(new) practical setting 7
Type of Questions
Preparation
• How to prepare?
• Read and thoroughly understand all content
• You shouldn’t be reading a concept for the first time during the exam !!
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Go through all the homework questions, quizzes, etc.
• DO NOT simply read the solutions, attempt to solve them before looking at solutions
• Practice Mid-term Exam link posted on Mid-term Exam Page - open till 08:30
am, 26th March
• Familiarizes you with the exam environment (Inspera) – important
• Familiarizes you with the type of questions
• Take it under similar conditions as when you sit for the actual exam
• Can ONLY attempt once in Inspera so only attempt when ready
• PDF versions of the exam + answers will be posted on the mid-term page
• Inspera Resources - https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/exams/inspera
• If you have questions
• Post on forum
• Attend consults: Weekly consult on Tuesday 4:30 – 5:30 (link on webpage) and extra slot on
Monday, 25th March 5-6pm (link will be available on the course notice page)
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Exam Day
• Have a good sleep and eat some food before the
exam
• Have water handy
• Make sure you are in a quiet and comfortable
environment
• Don’t panic and get stressed if you cannot figure
out one question, move on
• If you encounter technical issues with Inspera,
take screenshots and contact us via the Zoom chat
or email: cs3331@cse.unsw.edu.au.
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Good luck
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