In consultation with the Committee, the candidate will write a working paper of approximately 30 pages based upon an issue or issues outlined in the proposal and covered by the reading list. After the committee approves the working paper, it will schedule two 3-hour written examinations, based upon the paper and the project. The examining committee will conduct an oral examination of up to three hours, following up issues in the paper and the written examinations, or perhaps raising other related issues. Instructions to the candidate should indicate whether or not books may be used, whether extra time is allotted, etc. Ordinarily, writing time is three hours.
Many examiners allow additional time for selecting questions and for proofreading.
It is important that the graduate secretary know if extra time is allowed, since she serves as timekeeper. Be sure to number the pages. When the candidate completes an examination, the candidate turns it in to the graduate secretary, who duplicates questions and answers for each examiner. There is no fixed or quantitative relationship between the written and oral portions of the exams. A poor or mediocre written examination might be redeemed by a good oral.