Hey guys,

If you buy used text books online from a different source other than McMaster, do you absolutely need to have the Access Codes that are offered with the books being soled at the Mac bookstore? Or are those codes just to access the books online? For example Chemistry 1A03 has an access code offered with the book package for the textbook"Mastering Chemistry". Any other tips you have for buying used textbooks would be much appreciated too!

Thanks everyone!

The access codes are extra problems to help you practice. Some professors use those as an optional mark (~3-5%). The chem one was useful. Not everyone thought so but it helped give me practice and showed me what I did wrong and what the correct step was.

Access codes are not mandatory no matter with Titles or anyone tells you! Profs are require to give you alternate marking scheme. You can file a complain if they do not.

If you are horrible in a particular course, the extra bonus they bribe you with for the access code content will help you.

For the chem one, if all you wanted is to practice, then you can borrow a friends account.

^John's right it is against sch policy to have courses that force your to get access codes. Honestly most first year textbooks you can just get the pdf. I found chem 1A03 textbook a real waste of money. Many of my friends just bought the codes.