How hard is it to pass the Masters general examinations?

[zheng89120]

And what happens if one doesn't?

 

[eri]

Do you mean the exams in the classes? Those are typical class exams; if you fail them, you might fail the course, or get a low score in the course. Or do you mean the comprehensive (also called qualifying, quals, or comps) exam? That tends to cover all the material from graduate courses (and often some undergrad) and when you take it depends on the department (Berkeley astronomy has one you take when you come in, at most other schools it's after a year or two, UT Austin and Harvard astronomy don't have them at all), and most schools give you two chances to pass it. If you fail both, you're out of the program. Some let you retake only the parts you failed, but most make you retake the whole thing.

 

[Geezer]

Or do you mean the comprehensive (also called qualifying, quals, or comps) exam? ...Most schools give you two chances to pass it. If you fail both, you're out of the program. Some let you retake only the parts you failed, but most make you retake the whole thing.

^^Agreed.

Our school gives you two shots at the Comps. You MUST take the comps after your first year in grad school; if you fail, you must take it the following semester.

Sadly, it's been brought to my attention that fully HALF of the students taking the Comps in our program fail. And I know one person who failed twice, but he managed to convince the department to let him take the exams a third time; he finally passed on that third attempt.

It does worry me. I've been out of school for a few years now, and I'm not looking forward to taking a two-day exam that has a 50% success rate...