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<p>Seems like those professors may be recycling old test problems a bit too often…</p>
<p>Of course, an instructor can also be “realistic” and give an open book, open notes test. It would be realistic in that most real life (academic or otherwise) problems are not closed book tests. It might also install fear in students who were hoping for “plug and chug” problems but realize that an open book, open notes test is not likely to have such problems and is likely to have problems that require thinking about the subject at a level more than just memorizing a few formulas.</p>