Hi Friends. Thank you for volunteering to help better the Ph.D. candidacy exam.

Please use
complete sentences but we dont necessarily need an essay (but you do you). We are looking
for all sorts of constructive criticism, including the aspects of the questions which need
improvement as well as the aspects which you see are beneficial to be tested on. The PGSA has
the right to adjust any comments which are not constructive. Below are examples of two
questions that the PGSA board constructively criticized and a list of questions to help guide you
in the constructive criticism.

Radiation Spring 16, #4

Part A: Remember formula. Show with what? Do you know what the starting point is? Cant use
Maxwell in this case. Takes multiple class periods to derive.
Part B & C: Can you do math?
Part B looks at interesting physics so still better than C.
Would we get points for B&C if you dont get A?
Better leading through Part A If you cant remember one formula you cant get it. Then youre
screwed. If you need to remember one derivation or one formula, its a homework problem,
not a test problem.
Memorization of Lamar Radiation formula is not symbolic of physics skills
Would be improved by given starting point in part A. From here, derive this. Even then, this
becomes just math for all three parts.
You have a better chance at memorizing the answer to C (and possibly working backwards to
get the math to come out) than you are at memorizing the Lamar Formula

Skin Depth Spring 17, #4

Part A: Calculate skin depth. Would be helpful to get a starting point. Though its not too bad to
start from Maxwell equations.
Break it up into smaller pieces gives better knowledge of partial credit and clearer for
student to know where to go and what is expected for us to write down and where to stop.
Students will be more efficient while taking the test and give the grader what they want
without having to guess.
Part B: This is a fair question. It shows physics and math. Knowing the power and how to take
the time average is not an unreasonable expectation.