A Few Thoughts on the
Qualifying Exam
Format
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A paper is assigned ~7 days prior to exam
You need to write a written critique of the paper
(play a role of the reviewer)
Prepare and deliver 10-15 min oral presentation
(play a role of a conference presenter; include
review and critique as appropriate)
Answer questions (not always related to the
paper) for 30-45 min.
Repeat 2 times
When do I pass?
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You passed the QE outright if ¾ or more votes
are in favor of passing
If the vote is between 50 and 75% to pass, the
case goes to the Graduate Committee for the
decision. Decision may be conditional.
If less than 50% voted to pass, the exam is
failed.
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Can repeat one time.
If failed both time, you should switch to MS degree or
leave the program.
When to take the test
As soon as possible after passing
Preliminary Examination.
 Usually offered at least twice a year
(Spring/Summer and Winter).
 Limit is ~6-7 students per test. There may
be a waiting list.
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This semester…
Attend distinguished lectures!
 Real all assigned papers and attend all
students’ presentations!
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Ask tough questions.
Prepare your own presentation
 One/Two presentations per period.
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What is a critique?
Critique ≠ Attack
 Your goal is to analyze the paper and
assess its potential impact on the field of
study
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The Paper
It will look like
every other
paper you’ve
read
 It may or may
not be thoughprovoking or
controversial; it
will not be bad
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The Process: 1st Impression
What journal?
 Read the article through 10 times seriously
 Use the initial readings to brush up on
some of the basic concepts/terminology
being used
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The Process: Skeleton Critique
Don’t worry about having a welldeveloped opinion just yet
 Map out the basics
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Motivation for the work
 Methodology used
 Researcher’s conclusions
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The Process: Hard Work
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Two Prongs
Literature Review
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Find as many of the cited articles as possible
Find any articles that cite your article if applicable
Background Study
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Create a comprehensive list of word or phrase you
can think of and work through it piece by piece
Know the theory, know the relevant equations, know
the way cited instruments function and their error,
etc.
The Process: The Critique
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Answer the following:
What was their approach to the problem
investigated and was it appropriate?
 What conclusions were reached based upon
the data presented and were they
appropriate?
 What are the limits of the conclusions drawn?
 What do you foresee as the potential impact
of this work?
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The Presentation
Heretofore, most all of your presentations
have been to a professor or two and a
roomful of peers; no longer the case
 It’s intimidating; accept it and move on
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The Presentation
Remember: This is the ChE test
 Be as basic as possible
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No flashy PowerPoint motifs
 No animations, unless they are substantive
 Write slides like an outline to guide you
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The Presentation
Slide 1: Paper title, authors and
institutions, motivation, methodology
 Slides 2 - x: Theory and/or data as
appropriate
 Slides x - x+n: Analysis of data and
comparison to theory
 Last slide: your critique
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A Few Tips
Go light on text; focus on figures, pictures,
equations
 Nothing superfluous; guide them through
everything on each slide
 Be concise; save some for the Q&A - the
more questions you get on material you
presented, the less you’ll get from out of
left field
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The Q&A
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Good luck!