I have to agree with Jason that in a few years, or when you get out of school into the reality of design, you’ll find it much more complicated. Rough grading and fine grading are two different animals, add in ADA issues and existing conditions that you have to tie into and it’s a complex web at times. Ask your prof to get into vertical curves because I’ve found those on a test. I feel grading is one of the most important things you are going to learn because you’ll be using it 80% of the time in your work and an L.A. that can grade is priceless for civil engineers. You’ll save your client time and yourself money on your projects.
Tackle the test in sections from easiest to hardest, and I found that if you do quick sections that it helps give you an overall plan for your final design. Read the instructions for the requirements like Jason said, there are little tricks they add in especially having enough cover over a pipe.
