Are test questions drawn from a larger pool of questions?
No. All examinees address a common set of questions. The questions are distributed to all CEPSE students who enter doctoral programs in Fall 1994 and thereafter at the beginning of their doctoral study. The same questions are asked of all students to assure that the exam is fair and comparable across programs. While the SPRC does not believe that the Preliminary Examination questions cover all issues that students should be able to address, we believe that they tap a common core of scholarly issues, and should provide a means of assessing the competencies listed above, which we believe are appropriate for students from all programs in the department. What is the nature of the questions? The questions ask students to carefully analyze a piece of published research that is representative of research in their program area. Examinees for the Preliminary Examination Who takes the Preliminary Examination? Students who enter their doctoral program in Fall 1994 or thereafter are required to ta
