Cengage Lab Tips

 

Tips For Completing Cengage Labs With a Perfect Score

This applies specifically to Laurel Ridge Community College (and probably to all other VCCS schools) classes that use Cengage / MindTap labs.

1. Complete the questions at the end of the lab first, then 
2. go back and do the lab.

The  way the lab system is currently set up, it does not record your score until you hit the final 'submit' button. You can exit out without having it adversely affect you. If you get the answer wrong, it will show you what the correct answer should have been along with an explanation normally. The answers can also normally be found throughout the lab just by glancing over the explanations. 

Take a screenshot or write down notes so you'll understand what the correct answer is and why you got them wrong, then exit out of the lab. Relaunch the lab and when it asks you if you want to continue with your in-progress attempt, just click No. 

Once you know the answers, go back and redo the questions first. Then go back and run the lab step by step as you normally would for a perfect score.

Why do it this way? First, all my classes that use Cengage/ MindTap VM Labs allow unlimited attempts. Who wants to do the whole thing over again, w/ screenshots, just to get a good score?  The way these questions are weighted, missing 1 will often give you an 80% on your score. Avoid this time trap/ headache by going to the end and doing the questions first, then go back to the beginning and complete the lab like normal.

Information good as of Fall 2024.