> with enough time you might be able to derive a proof that you should have known cold.
Maybe it's just me, but I would wager that a student that can derive a proof is more likely to understand that proof than one who writes it from rote.
Maybe it's just me, but I would wager that a student that can derive a proof is more likely to understand that proof than one who writes it from rote.
Perhaps that person also makes a habit of not preparing & just winging it (Which is fine until it's not)
The student who was most prepared would be able to derive proofs (by the process that was taught, like knowing to apply a theorom, or being comforatable with induction, etc) in a timely manner.
The exam is there to see how well you grasp the material taught, not how good at winging it you are (which is a very useful skill of course, but not the one being tested)