Personal advice ragarding Qualifying Exams

Question

I am a Graduate student in Mathematics and in second Year. I have three qualifying exams in topics Abstract algebra, Real and Complex Analysis and Algebraic and differential topology.I already appeared for two times, but I didn't clear even a single subject and got very low grades. I will have a one more attempt and final attempt in January. Since I want to do research in Mathematics, but I failed in qualifiers I lost my hope completely now. Can any one suggest ideas so that I can improve myself and help me to prepare for the next qualifiers?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

As Gerry Myerson said, it is probably best to talk to your professors, as they are (hopefully) personally acquainted with you and write the exams. A source of guidance I have been using when I don't have someone to ask is Steven G. Krantz's book A Mathematician's Survival Guide: Graduate School and Early Career Development. The book has a few chapters which concern the topic of qualifying exams, so perhaps there is some bit of information in there which might be of use to you.

Answer 2

Another thing to do is to figure out why you did poorly on the exams. I had a friend in grad school who was very able, but did not put in the preparation necessary to pass the exams. Each time, she simply put in less time than was necessary to make sure that she understood the material at the level needed for the exams. (She went on to another university, passed the exams, and is on her way to a Ph.D.)

I would ask the other students that have passed the exams about their preparation. You should see if you are putting in the same amount of effort and studying the right content.