Sample Problems
The Written Qualifying Examination is described in the Graduate Student Handbook as:
"The Written Exam will be offered two times a year, once in January (on the first Monday and Tuesday following New Year's Day) and once in August (on the Monday and Tuesday preceding the first day of classes). The student will be given a total of 8 hours (4 each day) to complete the exam which will consist of 12 problems (6 each day) covering material ranging from introductory calculus-based physics to advanced topics in a typical student's undergraduate physics education (example tests are available). The exam must be taken the first time it is offered following the student's completion of one semester of residency (not including summer), however, the student has the option of taking the exam before his or her first semester of residency. If this option is taken advantage of, the student has three attempts to take the exam, otherwise only two are allowed.
There is no specific determination of passing or failing this part of the student's overall degree requirements. Rather, the student and his Advisory Committee will make a judgement regarding whether the performance on the exam suggests that the student should take it again a second (or third) time. The student's entire record (written comprehensive exam, coursework, and oral comprehensive exam) will be examined by the Advisory Committee and the faculty as a whole after completion of the oral comprehensive exam; at this time the student will either be promoted to Ph. D. candidacy or advised to seek a terminal Master's degree."
Below are copies of previous examinations which are published here to help students prepare for the exam: