Exams Committee

This committee used to be called the Prelims Committee; however, several suggestions were made to expand this committee to cover the Qualifying Exam as well.

Duties

• Help maintain a file of previous year's Prelims questions (collection of new questions every semester, at about week 6).
• Help maintain the list of required readings for each prelim (year round). Kathryn Crabtee already has these files, but we are responsible for adding new material and trying to correct inadequacies in the existing material.
• Finding volunteers to give practice prelims. (3rd week of semester)
  • The students taking the exam and volunteer examiners should find a mutually compatible time
  • A suggestion was made to have the practice exam be modelled after the real exam: One 30 minute practice exam per person instead of a two-hour group session. It feels more realistic and they are less intimidated at the real exam.
  • Although it should be up to the volunteer examiners as to the format, we should strongly encourage the mock prelim format.
• After the exam, send out a survey and report the results to the Faculty Prelims Committee. (normally during the 6th week of the semester)
• Maintain a repository of quals exam proposals (and slides?) for different areas. Periodically request proposals from students.