This 38-page guide is designed to help you understand the purpose of your preliminary, field, and qualifying exams as part of the PhD process—because when you truly understand why these exams exist, preparing for them becomes much easier and less overwhelming.
 
Inside, you’ll find:
Clear Explanations: Learn the purpose of each exam type and how they differ from other key milestones like the prospectus and dissertation.
Organizational Tools: Visuals, worksheets, and planning pages to keep you organized, focused, and motivated throughout your exam prep.
Practical Strategies for Teaching Grads: If you’re balancing teaching duties while preparing for exams, you’ll also find a curated list of classroom assignments that are:
Pedagogically sound
Easy to implement
Designed to save you time so you can focus on studying and succeeding
 
Whether you’re just starting to think about your exams or you’re deep in prep mode, this guide gives you structure, clarity, and tools to approach your PhD exams with confidence.