Pass Physics Grad Qualifying Exams: Strategies & Plan

Full Chapter List – So You Want To Be A Physicist… Series

• Part I: Early Physics Education in High schools
• Part II: Surviving the First Year of College
• Part III: Mathematical Preparations
• Part IV: The Life of a Physics Major
• Part V: Applying for Graduate School
• Part VI: What to Expect from Graduate School Before You Get There
• Part VII: The US Graduate School System
• Part VIII: Alternative Careers for a Physics Grad
• Part VIIIa: Entering Physics Graduate School From Another Major
• Part IX: First years of Graduate School from Being a TA to the Graduate Exams
• Part X: Choosing a Research area and an advisor
• Part XI: Initiating Research Work
• Part XII: Research work and The Lab Book
• Part XIII: Publishing in a Physics Journal
• Part XIV: Oral Presentations
• Part XIII: Publishing in a Physics Journal (Addendum)
• Part XIV: Oral Presentations – Addendum
• Part XV – Writing Your Doctoral Thesis/Dissertation
• Part XVI – Your Thesis Defense
• Part XVII – Getting a Job!
• Part XVIII – Postdoctoral Position
• Part XIX – Your Curriculum Vitae

Starting Graduate School: Coursework and Campus Life

You are now entering your first year of graduate school. Academically, you will typically take a set of required courses that form the core preparation for all physics graduate students. These commonly include advanced classical mechanics (Goldstein level), advanced quantum mechanics (Merzbacher / Sakurai level), and advanced electrodynamics (Jackson or Landau–Lifshitz level). Any of these may span more than one semester or quarter.

Plan to spend roughly the first two years completing required and elective coursework. This period also gives you time to meet faculty, learn about ongoing research, identify faculty who can fund graduate research assistants, and discover which groups or advisors you prefer (and which you should avoid). These practical, informal observations are best learned by being on campus and engaging with the community.

Course load and grading expectations

Most graduate programs have lower minimum credit-hour requirements than undergraduate programs; some have no strict minimum. You may take one to three classes per semester, which is especially useful if you have teaching or research duties. However, keep in mind that grade expectations are usually higher for graduate students: many programs consider anything below a B to be unsatisfactory. Check your department’s policy to confirm required minimum grades to remain in good standing.

Teaching Assistantships: Turn a chore into learning

If you receive a teaching assistantship, duties often include running undergraduate labs, grading homework and exams, or leading discussion sections. Many students treat TA duties as a chore, but here is important advice: you haven’t truly understood material until you can teach it effectively to someone else.

From my experience, TAing is an excellent way to deepen your understanding. Preparing clear explanations forces you to be meticulous; grading can expose you to different solutions and new approaches. My approach was simple: “If I have to do this, I might as well do it as well as I can.” Take pride in the quality of your work — it helps the students, strengthens your knowledge, and is resume-worthy experience.

The Big Monster: The Qualifying Examination

The qualifying exam (or qualifying examination) is the major milestone many grad students fear. Departments use it to determine if you have the fundamental physics knowledge needed to continue in the Ph.D. program. The structure, timing, and scope vary significantly between schools.

What is it?

The exam tests whether you have the core undergraduate physics competency and, in some programs, parts of the first-year graduate material. It is highly school-dependent: format, length, and rules differ across institutions.

How is it administered?

Formats I have seen include:

• A single comprehensive exam day.
• Exams spread over two days.
• Multiple consecutive days (even five).
• Subject-specific days (e.g., Day 1 — Classical Mechanics, Day 2 — E&M, Day 3 — QM).

Some departments allow retakes of failed parts only (e.g., retake QM but keep pass in CM and E&M); others require retaking the entire exam. In many programs the written exam is just one component — there may also be an oral exam for borderline cases or as a standard part of the process.

What is covered?

The short answer: the essential undergraduate physics curriculum. Common core topics include Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and Statistical Mechanics. Some departments let you choose specialized areas (particle physics, condensed matter, nuclear, atomic physics, etc.). I have even encountered exams that test historical experiments: you pick a few and explain their setup and significance.

How to prepare

Preparation strategies that work:

• Retake relevant undergraduate courses if you feel weak in an area.
• Obtain past qualifying exams from your department (or from senior graduate students) and work through them. If available, books that compile past exams (with solutions) are very helpful.
• Form study groups to divide topics, compare solutions, and teach each other. Teaching peers is an efficient way to learn.
• Create a systematic study plan that targets known weak areas first and then broadens coverage.

Warning: committees change yearly. Past exams give a feel for typical questions and difficulty, but they don’t guarantee future formats or topics. Eccentric committee members can produce unexpected questions.

How are pass/fail decisions made?

Departments use different systems — fixed score cutoffs, curving, or combined written-plus-oral assessments. Most of this process is opaque to students and sometimes changes year to year. Ask senior students and faculty for unofficial guidance about how your department typically judges exams.

Final advice

Worrying yourself sick is counterproductive. Ordinary students pass this exam; you don’t need to be superhuman. Focus on a deliberate study strategy: organize your time, study in pairs or small groups, and cover the fundamentals thoroughly. Also take care of your health — sleep, nutrition, and stress management matter. You will need both your mind and body at their best when you enter the examination hall.