Preliminary Examination
Table of contents
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination, or prelim, is an exam taken at the end of your first year to assess your ability to read and understand the literature in your field. It is typically taken any time between first week of May to mid-May.
Prelim Preparation
What to expect?
Grace will send you a doodle poll asking for your availability and then sets up an exam where 5 professors are assigned as your Prelim Committee (including Ambar).
What exactly happens?
10 mins presentation (the committee really appreciates if the timing is perfect so PRACTICE!!!) followed by 20 min questions (it’s usually a bit longer than stated).
| Task | Timeline | Supports |
|---|---|---|
| Pick 4-5 papers out of the many related to your project | First week of Jan | Self |
| Shortlist 2 | Mid Jan | Ambar |
| Prepare 10 mins ppt | Jan End | Check out with group members |
| Read and improve your ppt | Through winter quarter | Self; discuss with the group, practice presentations |
| Write an abstract based on guidelines sent by grace | first week of April is the deadline | Get it approved by Ambar |
| Set up formal practice sessions with the group | As soon as you feel comfy but must be starting April | Teamwork, the more the better |
| On receiving the list of committee members set up individual practice sessions with members of their group (seek help from members of our group if needed) | As many sessions as you want and people are ready to help with. Before your GSO practice session | Do not hesitate to ask for help. This is the best way to improve and tweak your ppt according to the committee. |
| Sign-up for GSO practice session | Pick a date close to your prelim day | Thank the seniors offering help |
| Make reading related literature your daily routine till the time you feel comfortable with your 2 main papers | Though out the Spring quarter | Self |
Useful
Pick a paper that deals more with the core ECH courses of your choice/strength (eg. Pick a paper that talks more about thermo if you like thermo or kinetics or mass transfer etc.) PLAY ON YOUR STRENGTHS!!! Make sure you brush up Ambar’s kinetics class or any other class that you took which was taught by one of the Prelim committee members. Particularly, if it is related to your paper. Please don’t over prepare. You need to know how much is too much or your brain crashes while answering. If the people you practiced with suggest that you are good, then that is it. Do not keep reading and digging further.
Slides
Keep your slides uncomplicated. Try to come-up with a story for your slides to make sense. What is on the slides is what you will be asked. People in the group will help you to improve you slides (make sure you see previous prelim ppts from members of the group).
Most importantly STAY CALM and CONFIDENT!!!
Note: the group saves previous prelim presentations on Box. Use these as a guide.