How to Handle Secret Tests?

Question

This is about the latest "secret tests", for both homework #2 and homework #4. I'd rather write here than pollute Prof. Spognardi's lecture with related questions. I dislike complaining, so I will keep this short.

Given that our assignments understandably don't describe realistic scenarios, the unit tests serve as guidance rather than a mere complement to requirements. How come the latest edge cases weren't included among the initial tests?

Most of us had read about "secret tests" in the Italian forum. Their purpose, we thought, was to dissuade and signal cheating, as when exploiting inputs bias or data repetitions. We were wrong. Five heroes students were unaffected by the latest tests; fifty or so failed to anticipate the new test cases. What would the teaching staff advise to avoid future complications with "secret tests"?

There's an Italian term that perfectly captures my state of mind — "rosicata".

All in all, thanks for the learning platform, the challenging homeworks and the cruel plot twists. 
 

Answer 1

Thanks for the constructive comment. From it I take two things:

• it would be better if some edge cases would be part of the initial assignment tests. (I will do my best to do it in a future)
• unit testing is NOT meant as a complete specification, but can only test a subset of the solution space (and this is a lesson for everybody listening)