Mathematics Department - Ph.D. Requirements - Written Qualifying Exam

Ph.D. Requirements - Written Qualifying Exam


Mathematics Graduate Program

Syllabus for the Written Exam In PDF
Sample exam in current format In PDF


The next sitting of the written qualifying exams will be
Tuesday, August 29 –  Wednesday, August 30 –  Thursday, August 31, 2017 in Hill 705.



The Mathematics Ph.D. program at Rutgers includes two qualifying examinations, a written exam and an oral exam. The written exam is taken first and covers advanced calculus, elementary topology (metric spaces, compactness, and related topics), and the material of 501 (real analysis), 503 (complex analysis), and 551 (algebra). It is offered twice a year, near the beginning of each semester.

The syllabus represents a common core of material required of all Rutgers Ph.D.'s. In particular, the exam is designed with the goal that a pass on this exam shows a level of mathematical knowledge and ability appropriate for teaching the central undergraduate classes in mathematics.

The exam consists of three separate component exams on different topics: algebra; real analysis and elementary point set topology; and complex analysis and advanced calculus. Students who do not pass the exam do not need to retake individual components which they have already passed.

Each student is required to take the exam by the beginning of the student's second year, and pass all the exams by the beginning of his or her fourth semester; the program director may allow a student who has entered with less preparation than the norm to take the exam a specified number of semesters later.

During any attempt, students are expected to take each of the three portions which they have not already passed. Students who fail any componet of the exam may take it again during the semester following the one in which the exam was failed. Students who fail on the second attempt or who do not take the exams on schedule (as determined by the program director) will not be allowed to continue in the Ph.D. program.

"Free" attempt for entering students Students beginning graduate work at Rutgers may take the written qualifying exam at the beginning of their first semester in the program. If such a student fails the exam, this will not count as one of the two attempts that the student is normally allowed; the student will be allowed two additional attempts at the exam.

The exam is a six hour written exam broken up into three exams, each of which is two hours long. The three exams cover, respectively, algebra, real analysis and elementary point set topology, and complex analysis and advanced calculus. Each of these two hour exams consists of two parts. Part I has 3 problems, each of which is mandatory, and part II has 2 problems, of which the student is expected to do one. Each student is expected to submit solutions to all 3 problems in part I, and 1 out of the 2 problems in part II.



A complete solution to the August 2016 exam is posted here to serve as a model for students to learn how much justification and detail one should strive to provide --- these solutions are not worked out in a timed setting as the student solutions on the real exams are, so can afford to contain more complete arguments; students can get full or close to full credits when their solutions contain all the key ingredients, with perhaps less detail than those contained here. A complete solution to the January 2011 exam, which is in the older format, is posted here.



Prior versions of the exam (New format)

Spring 2017 In PDF
Fall 2016 In PDF
Spring 2016 In PDF
Fall 2015 In PDF
Spring 2015 In PDF
Fall 2014 In PDF

Prior versions of the exam (Old format)

Spring 2014 In PDF
Fall 2013 In PDF
Spring 2013 In PDF
Fall 2012 In PDF
Spring 2012 In PDF
Fall 2011 In PDF
Spring 2011 In PDF
Fall 2010 In PDF
Spring 2010 In PDF
Fall 2009 In PDF
Spring 2009 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2008 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2008 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2007 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2007 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2006 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2006 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2005 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2005 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2004 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2004 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2003 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2003 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2002 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2002 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2001 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2001 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 2000 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 2000 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 1999 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 1999 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 1998 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 1998 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 1997 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 1997 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 1996 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Spring 1996 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Fall 1995 In Postscript In PDF In DVI
Sample exam (1993) In Postscript In PDF In DVI

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