GGAM Preliminary Examinations

The PhD Preliminary Examination is a written examination covering MAT 201ABC and MAT 207ABC. The exam is offered at the beginning of Fall and Spring quarters every year. The exam is usually held a few days before the start of classes.

PhD students are required to pass this examination before the end of their second year in the Applied Mathematics program (and if they entered with a Masters, by October of their second year). They may take the examination multiple times; what matters is when they pass, not how many attempts. The results of this examination will be used by the GGAM Executive Committee to determine whether the student can enter or continue in the PhD program.

MS students are required to pass the 207ABC Applied Preliminary Examination. This portion of the preliminary exam satisfies the comprehensive exam requirement.

Preliminary Examination Workshops

The Preliminary Exams for the upcoming Fall Quarter are scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Sept 12, 2018, and Thursday, September 13, 2018.

The exam workshops were initiated under the VIGRE program in 2002 and they continue today. The Department conducts review and problem-solving workshops aimed at helping students get ready for the graduate preliminary exams. All students are welcome to participate, though it will be particularly useful for entering students in both the Mathematics and GGAM programs, and for first-year students who have not yet passed their written exams.


Workshop Topic Instructor Dates Time/ Place
Workshop in Analysis Nachtergaele
 Aug 27-Aug 31

10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm/ MSB 2112

About the PhD Preliminary Examination

MAT 201ABC (Analysis Portion):

  • Chair of the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) asks two sitting members of the GPC to compose problems in consultation with the previous year's 201ABC instructors. These problems are forwarded to the GPC/GGAM chairs.
  • The GPC/GGAM chairs select the final exam problems.
  • The exam workshop instructors grade the exams.
  • The GGAM chair evaluates the grades and recommends the pass/fail status of the students to the GGAM Executive Committee.
  • The GGAM Executive Committee discusses and finalizes the chair's recommendation.

More information regarding the Analysis Portion, including past exams, can be found here.

MAT 207ABC (Methods in Applied Mathematics Portion):

  • The GGAM Executive Committee asks previous year's MAT 207ABC instructors for potential exam problems, and selects the final exam problems.
  • The above-mentioned instructors grade the exams.
  • The GGAM chair evaluates the grades and recommends the pass/fail status of the students to the GGAM Executive Committee.
  • The GGAM Executive Committee discusses and finalizes the chair's recommendation.

PREVIOUS PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS (ALL EXAMS IN PDF FORMAT)

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