# data[].attributes.headline
Ensure that students have mastery of foundational material 

# data[].attributes.subject
Ensure that students have mastery of foundational material 

# data[].attributes.headline
Ensure students are capable of reading a breadth of existing literature, knowledge of definitions, etc.

# data[].attributes.subject
Ensure students are capable of reading a breadth of existing literature, knowledge of definitions, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
I was able to pass my qualifying exams by getting a sufficiently high grade in the corresponding course! This meant I didn't have to take any high stake stand-alone exams in grad school.

# data[].attributes.headline
Very competent students choke & do poorly

# data[].attributes.subject
Very competent students choke & do poorly

# data[].attributes.headline
these exams are traumatic to a degree that outweighs their benefit. like most timed exams

# data[].attributes.subject
these exams are traumatic to a degree that outweighs their benefit. like most timed exams

# data[].attributes.headline
Can create a barrier for students who are not good test takers.

# data[].attributes.subject
Can create a barrier for students who are not good test takers.

# data[].attributes.headline
Not clear that they are valid or reliable

# data[].attributes.subject
Not clear that they are valid or reliable

# data[].attributes.headline
Motivate students to study material that's relevant for their subject but for which there's not enough time to cover in the course, encourage independence

# data[].attributes.subject
Motivate students to study material that's relevant for their subject but for which there's not enough time to cover in the course, encourage independence

# data[].attributes.headline
Tremendous inconsistencies in difficulty. My first time I took my analysis qual they failed all 12 or so people who took it, two years later it was very easy

# data[].attributes.subject
Tremendous inconsistencies in difficulty. My first time I took my analysis qual they failed all 12 or so people who took it, two years later it was very easy

# data[].attributes.headline
Results might reflect nerves/anxiety more than proficiency

# data[].attributes.subject
Results might reflect nerves/anxiety more than proficiency

# data[].attributes.body
A more objective measure of the students performance in the beginning of their career

# data[].attributes.headline
Can prolong time-to-degree for students, and that can reflect poorly on the department and have consequences at some universities.

# data[].attributes.subject
Can prolong time-to-degree for students, and that can reflect poorly on the department and have consequences at some universities.

# data[].attributes.headline
Often require bootstrapping, which is much harder for undersupported populations of students

# data[].attributes.subject
Often require bootstrapping, which is much harder for undersupported populations of students

# data[].attributes.headline
Not clear that the written exam format reflects a skill that students will need to have to succeed in academia

# data[].attributes.subject
Not clear that the written exam format reflects a skill that students will need to have to succeed in academia

# data[].attributes.headline
I feel like I learned a lot of material (some of which I later used in my research)

# data[].attributes.subject
I feel like I learned a lot of material (some of which I later used in my research)

# data[].attributes.headline
people say that these exams are good for motivating students to learn the foundational material more deeply than they had to to pass the course, but I don't see this benefit outweighing the downsides

# data[].attributes.subject
people say that these exams are good for motivating students to learn the foundational material more deeply than they had to to pass the course, but I don't see this benefit outweighing the downsides

# data[].attributes.body
A way to make sure everyone is familiar with a baseline set of terms, and everyone can solve a baseline set of problems.

# data[].attributes.headline
Serves as an indicator to students that they are struggling

# data[].attributes.subject
Serves as an indicator to students that they are struggling

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prioritizes being clever and quick over thinking deeply and presenting things well

# data[].attributes.subject
prioritizes being clever and quick over thinking deeply and presenting things well

# data[].attributes.headline
Time limitations (must pass quals within X semesters) make it harder for underprepared students

# data[].attributes.subject
Time limitations (must pass quals within X semesters) make it harder for underprepared students

# data[].attributes.body
If there is a core course requirement, allows students to demonstrate knowledge of the material in lieu of taking the core

# data[].attributes.headline
they are frequently very detached from the math needed to conduct research in a field

# data[].attributes.subject
they are frequently very detached from the math needed to conduct research in a field

# data[].attributes.headline
Spent summer working on it and came a long way at the end by really learning how to learn math on my own.

# data[].attributes.subject
Spent summer working on it and came a long way at the end by really learning how to learn math on my own.

# data[].attributes.body
ensure that students have learned the details of a subject before they move on to try to do a graduate project on the topic

# data[].attributes.body
Leads to a competitive environment among grad students who feel that they have to prove themselves

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Recast of above: student succeeding at research, still trying to pass a qualifying subject

# data[].attributes.subject
Recast of above: student succeeding at research, still trying to pass a qualifying subject

# data[].attributes.headline
Sometimes there is no way to remediate if exams are not passed.

# data[].attributes.subject
Sometimes there is no way to remediate if exams are not passed.

# data[].attributes.headline
Oral exams can be used to gauge whether students have integrated/synthesized knowledge from their coursework

# data[].attributes.subject
Oral exams can be used to gauge whether students have integrated/synthesized knowledge from their coursework

# data[].attributes.headline
Helps students develop better skills for learning fundamental material independent of a classroom setting and instructor. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Helps students develop better skills for learning fundamental material independent of a classroom setting and instructor. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Synthesized a lot of material, gained a deeper understanding of the material and how different courses related

# data[].attributes.subject
Synthesized a lot of material, gained a deeper understanding of the material and how different courses related

# data[].attributes.headline
Gets students to learn the "core" material in a deeper way than just from a course.

# data[].attributes.subject
Gets students to learn the "core" material in a deeper way than just from a course.

# data[].attributes.headline
I've seen very promising students leave either due to poor performance on qualifying exams, or due to stress over it

# data[].attributes.subject
I've seen very promising students leave either due to poor performance on qualifying exams, or due to stress over it

# data[].attributes.body
These exams buy into the "timed problem solving" culture of math, instead of the "collaborative, relaxed" culture

# data[].attributes.headline
High stakes exams disadvantage students with test anxiety

# data[].attributes.subject
High stakes exams disadvantage students with test anxiety

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It was really tough watching many of my close friends struggle with the very arbitrary pass/fail decisions for different qualifying exams. It also created a clear hierarchy in the program of "strong" vs "weak" students based on who passed their exams the quickest. Of course the "weak" students were disproportionately white women and students of color who had not taken graduate math classes in undergrad. 

# data[].attributes.subject
It was really tough watching many of my close friends struggle with the very arbitrary pass/fail decisions for different qualifying exams. It also created a clear hierarchy in the program of "strong" vs "weak" students based on who passed their exams the quickest. Of course the "weak" students were disproportionately white women and students of color who had not taken graduate math classes in undergrad. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Student who came into program with very little math was able to succeed at exam after studying all summer.

# data[].attributes.subject
Student who came into program with very little math was able to succeed at exam after studying all summer.

# data[].attributes.headline
Exams can be inconsistent regarding the level of difficulty, and the material covered. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Exams can be inconsistent regarding the level of difficulty, and the material covered. 

# data[].attributes.body
Some students will be eliminated from a program because they are unable to preform on an exam when they would be capable of doing a project.

# data[].attributes.headline
They provide grad programs with an opportunity/excuse to remove students from the program

# data[].attributes.subject
They provide grad programs with an opportunity/excuse to remove students from the program

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I was forced to learn analysis, which was ultimately extremely useful in my research career.

# data[].attributes.subject
I was forced to learn analysis, which was ultimately extremely useful in my research career.

# data[].attributes.headline
After failing exam several times, finally found some major background/skills deficits that were worked on and led to a pass on the exam

# data[].attributes.subject
After failing exam several times, finally found some major background/skills deficits that were worked on and led to a pass on the exam

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Stressful for students, for a variety of reasons.  Can be especially stressful for those who may have test anxieties or undiagnosed learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

# data[].attributes.subject
Stressful for students, for a variety of reasons.  Can be especially stressful for those who may have test anxieties or undiagnosed learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

# data[].attributes.headline
Forced to study for exams while taking courses instead of doing reading groups/ beginning research.

# data[].attributes.subject
Forced to study for exams while taking courses instead of doing reading groups/ beginning research.

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high stakes exams do not represent research potential

# data[].attributes.subject
high stakes exams do not represent research potential

# data[].attributes.body
I've seen some faculty who wrote the exam based on topics they found interesting, instead of writing the exam based on topics outlined in the graduate handbook! (E.g.: in Algebra, problems on composition of quadratic forms instead of groups, rings, fields, etc.)

# data[].attributes.body
I passed them even though I didn't think I would, giving me some confidence in my abilities (which should come internally or from some other source of validation, but what can I say, the exams did do this for me).

# data[].attributes.headline
Extends the time it takes to start research and transition to what doing a PhD is really about 

# data[].attributes.subject
Extends the time it takes to start research and transition to what doing a PhD is really about 

# data[].attributes.headline
I witnessed several health complications due to stress

# data[].attributes.subject
I witnessed several health complications due to stress

# data[].attributes.body
Weight gain/loss, stress related ulcers, sleep deprivation, mental health deterioration, for exams that don't matter once they are finished.

# data[].attributes.headline
Often there are too many of them. My students don't need to know measure theory!

# data[].attributes.subject
Often there are too many of them. My students don't need to know measure theory!

# data[].attributes.headline
Helps guide students study in order to build a baseline set of knowledge before beginning research. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Helps guide students study in order to build a baseline set of knowledge before beginning research. 

# data[].attributes.body
In reality, the pressure of the exam structure meant that I rarely felt at liberty to really dig deeply into what I was learning. I was always working towards the exam rather than understanding.

# data[].attributes.headline
Creates hierarchy among students, between those who passed fast and those who didn't

# data[].attributes.subject
Creates hierarchy among students, between those who passed fast and those who didn't

# data[].attributes.body
I still dream that I have to take prelims! Or that I have to write one and then take it and I fail it ... so... definitely stressful.

# data[].attributes.headline
Not sure that it is a good measure (at my institution at least) of whether or not a student is capable of doing research and writing a dissertation.

# data[].attributes.subject
Not sure that it is a good measure (at my institution at least) of whether or not a student is capable of doing research and writing a dissertation.

# data[].attributes.headline
A relatively easy/fast way to assess grit in math

# data[].attributes.subject
A relatively easy/fast way to assess grit in math

# data[].attributes.headline
Unclear that it was an efficient learning tool... I learned the stuff to pass and then forgot a lot of it.

# data[].attributes.subject
Unclear that it was an efficient learning tool... I learned the stuff to pass and then forgot a lot of it.

# data[].attributes.body
I've seen students who gained confidence in passing an exam right away for a topic they thought they didn't actually know that well. This was a big boost in deciding to work in that area afterwards.

# data[].attributes.headline
Timed exams are not objective in general, known to be highly biased

# data[].attributes.subject
Timed exams are not objective in general, known to be highly biased

# data[].attributes.headline
success does not necessarily correlate with research ability 

# data[].attributes.subject
success does not necessarily correlate with research ability 

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Students who could otherwise be successful are kicked out of the program for not passing them

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Students who could otherwise be successful are kicked out of the program for not passing them

# data[].attributes.body
I've seen some students stress out over passing an exam in one area that was completely different from the area they we going to work in. To be more specific, I saw one student struggle several times to pass the Abstract Algebra exam -- nearly getting kicked out of the program! -- although he was going to work in mathematical biology.

# data[].attributes.headline
heightens the toxic hyper-competitive environment of grad school "ohh I passed and this person didn't" etc

# data[].attributes.subject
heightens the toxic hyper-competitive environment of grad school "ohh I passed and this person didn't" etc

# data[].attributes.headline
I know students who were pushed out of programs (or an attempt was made to push them out) because they were denied disability accommodations for qualifying courses and then blamed by the DGS when they fell behind the standard schedule for passing exams.

# data[].attributes.subject
I know students who were pushed out of programs (or an attempt was made to push them out) because they were denied disability accommodations for qualifying courses and then blamed by the DGS when they fell behind the standard schedule for passing exams.

# data[].attributes.headline
Allow students more time than just the time of the class.

# data[].attributes.subject
Allow students more time than just the time of the class.

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unclear why they have to be timed and in-person when we're already comfortable giving take-home exams for grad courses

# data[].attributes.subject
unclear why they have to be timed and in-person when we're already comfortable giving take-home exams for grad courses

# data[].attributes.headline
encouraged me to learn some advanced material earlier, e.g. I initially didn't want to take the analysis qual and then decided to go for it and it forced me to learn functional analysis earlier (my current area of research)

# data[].attributes.subject
encouraged me to learn some advanced material earlier, e.g. I initially didn't want to take the analysis qual and then decided to go for it and it forced me to learn functional analysis earlier (my current area of research)

# data[].attributes.headline
I learned the material at a greater depth after spending the time studying for the exams.  There was also some soul searching of "Do I really want this?"

# data[].attributes.subject
I learned the material at a greater depth after spending the time studying for the exams.  There was also some soul searching of "Do I really want this?"

# data[].attributes.headline
Students realised that our abstract algebra exam would always have a Sylow theorem question, so the committee chose to stop writing that topic into the exam to try to keep students from getting an upper hand.

# data[].attributes.subject
Students realised that our abstract algebra exam would always have a Sylow theorem question, so the committee chose to stop writing that topic into the exam to try to keep students from getting an upper hand.

# data[].attributes.headline
I had passed 3/4 exams but in one subject I attempted the exam four times over two years and was unable to pass despite devoting months of effort to studying and making great progress to my understanding of the subject. Finally, I took a different class for a subject (even further) outside my research area and passed that exam on the first try. They are clearly not written or graded to the same level across subject areas.

# data[].attributes.subject
I had passed 3/4 exams but in one subject I attempted the exam four times over two years and was unable to pass despite devoting months of effort to studying and making great progress to my understanding of the subject. Finally, I took a different class for a subject (even further) outside my research area and passed that exam on the first try. They are clearly not written or graded to the same level across subject areas.

# data[].attributes.headline
I do not know a single person with a disability who has not suffered at the hands of the qualifying exam structure. I have watched as dyslexic classmates leave the program, as ADHD classmates suffer for years before being forced out with a Master's. I struggle with ADHD and I suffered for years in the qual system before narrowly completing my last exam within the extended time frame granted after appealing to the department for more time.

# data[].attributes.subject
I do not know a single person with a disability who has not suffered at the hands of the qualifying exam structure. I have watched as dyslexic classmates leave the program, as ADHD classmates suffer for years before being forced out with a Master's. I struggle with ADHD and I suffered for years in the qual system before narrowly completing my last exam within the extended time frame granted after appealing to the department for more time.

# data[].attributes.headline
I possibly only know much about a Mycielskian construction because of studying for the graph theory qual, and very recently I was able to identify a confusing graph structure in my research thanks to recognising that it was somehow similar to a Mycielskian.

# data[].attributes.subject
I possibly only know much about a Mycielskian construction because of studying for the graph theory qual, and very recently I was able to identify a confusing graph structure in my research thanks to recognising that it was somehow similar to a Mycielskian.