Feedback on Practice Exam: 2 – Time Limit and Learning Experience

I would like to fully support the feedback shared by Zachary Roblyer and Andreas Mueller.

The 12-minute time limit for the practice exam 2 is, in my opinion, unrealistic for most course participants. Instead of testing our SQL skills, it primarily measures our ability to perform under pressure. This can lead to a frustrating and demotivating experience, especially for those genuinely trying to deepen their understanding of SQL.

The argument that “some students have managed to complete the exam within the given time frame” is not fully convincing. Some of these individuals may have prior experience or simply tested their knowledge without going through the learning journey. Others might have used unfair means. Without a reliable way to verify those factors, this benchmark should not be used to define what’s expected of everyone.

Setting the bar so high may be discouraging. In my case, the experience was so off-putting that I paused my learning journey for several months. I have now returned to finish the course, but I decided not to compete on time. I care about mastering the material, not about comparing myself to top performers. For me, effectiveness comes first—only then does efficiency matter.

Suggestions for improvement:

1. Reorder the questions: Start with the easier ones (e.g., Questions 5 and 6). This would help build confidence and reduce stress from the beginning.

2. Offer a no-time-limit option: Let students take the exam without a time constraint, and then provide personalized feedback on how their completion time compares to other participants—a kind of “time ranking.” This would be more constructive and motivating. From a technical standpoint, such a solution should be relatively easy to implement.

I strongly believe these changes would make the learning experience more inclusive, encouraging, and aligned with the platform’s educational goals.

Best regards,
Dimiter