EXAMS AND COMPUTER ALGEBRA SYSTEMS

In the French system of CPGE (undergraduate level), CAS (Computer Algebra System) is used as a mathematical aid. The ability of students to use CAS as a tool in a real mathematical activity is relatively easy to test if you are tutoring them in the context of their research projects. It is not the same in exams. On these occasions, the examiner chooses the question and the examinee has just an hour to tackle it. In our presentation, using examples from French exams in Maple, we will endeavour to show the various pitfalls to avoid and how an examiner can become able to assess the ability of students to use CAS as a mathematical tool