Assess students' ability to analyze and classify axis-aligned conic sections given a general second-degree equation without an xy-term, Ax^2 + Cy^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0. Tasks: use coefficients A and C to identify circle/ellipse/parabola/hyperbola or degenerate case, complete the square to obtain standard form, determine centers/vertices/axes lengths and orientations, and justify classification and basic graphing parameters.