After the meeting, send a memo of understanding to your committee members and ask for comment. This memo is particularly important to verify your understanding and to reassure the committee of your readiness. Preparing Answers Understand your committee members expectations for the answers. Check out books and literature in advance, particularly assigned articles and research conducted by your committee members. Some students found it helpful to cite their advisors work in their answers.
Time management is particularly important.
Many students felt exhausted before completing the last question. My advisors offered a tip that I found very valuable. Some computer software that I found helpful in time-management were Microsoft Project and Microsoft Scheduler. Very few students pass the qualifying exam without revisions or make-up assignments. Since the quest for excellence is a life-long process, do your best on the exam even though it might not turn out perfect the very first time.