On any given try, several students will not pass. However, partial passes are frequent, and students have three tries. Only a few students have actually had to leave the program. The vast majority of students who leave the program do so by their own choice. When you are ready.
Every student has a unique background, aptitude, and ability to handle stress.
We encourage students to take the exam as soon as possible, since the material from the core classes will be fresh in their minds, and most of the fun of graduate school lies after the comps. Students with a good computer science background and who have done well in the core classes might take the exam in the Spring of their first year. The faculty can take several factors into account. First and foremost is the exam. However, performance in courses, progress in research, and testimonials of professors also play an important role .