Many #PhD programs offer #comprehensiveexams (comps) in June & July.
Comps assess #PhDstudents understanding of their discipline & their ability to conduct #independentresearch.
In-person exams typically require a student to sit in a room & respond to 4 to 6 questions over a couple of days. Responses are usually closed book. They evaluate students' recall of the literature, their ability to apply the literature, & their ability to evaluate the literature on the fly.
Take-home exams typically give a student a few days to write more reflective essays on a set of questions. Responses are open book. Students are expected to write them independently - so there is no crosstalk. They evaluate students' critical thinking ability, understanding of the literature, & writing skills.
Hybrid exams typically mix both formats - probing recall ability & #writingskills.
Most exams go beyond material covered in #coursework - & ask students to develop a #researchdesign, #review a paper, or #advance a concept or #theory.
Some argue that open access to tools like #GoogleScholar makes comps an #anachronism; reasoning information is freely available, so why test mastery of a literature?
I disagree. A Ph.D. isn't simply about regurgitating articles. A Ph.D. is about critical thinking & the ability to convey ideas. Well-designed comps assess those skills.
Understanding these nuances is essential because comps are a make or breakpoint for students. If you fail to demonstrate critical thinking & the ability to convey ideas, the sharp sword of dismissal will surely strike.
So how can you prepare for comps? And excel?
First, talk to your program director. Don't email. Talk. Ask about the format of the exam & the rubric for evaluating it.
Exams & rubrics tend to change slightly every year, so get an updated view.
Second, talk to the question writers. Typically, questions are written by people that taught your seminars, that you have worked with, & by your advisor.
Usually, question writers will drop tips on what they find interesting. They are also the people that will mark the exam.
Third, read broadly. Comps usually go beyond your seminars. So, know seminal papers, current trends in methods, & external current events that impact questions studied by your discipline.
Many students fail who don't see the big picture of their field.
Fourth, prepare. Even if open book, your time to write a response is limited.
The more you know, the easier it will be to craft a response quickly.
Fifth, practice. Usually, old exam questions are available from the program or your peers. Take one & time yourself.
Pro-tip. When practicing, make a habit of marking each point addressed. Students fail whom miss points asked for in a question.
If you apply these tips, you will find comps more manageable.
Best of luck!
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