PhD exam differences

[darkacai]

I am confused about comprehensive vs preliminary vs qualifying exams. What are there differences?

Also what are the written & oral qualifying exams like?

[Eigen]

These are names for different, very general, types of exams that schools give. Each school tends to be a little different. 

[MoJingly]

Yup, and there are even differences in format and naming between different departments within the same school. 

[the_sheath]

From what people have told me about their programs and from the ones I've researched myself, I'd have to agree--it varies a lot. The idea is the same--they're generally tests to gauge how well you've mastered the core graduate material and if you can move on to finish your PhD. But then comps sound like quals, and quals often vary wildly by structure--some don't have an oral component, for example.

[Eigen]

And there are a growing number of schools and programs that call it a qualifying exam, but in fact do something like a grant proposal + defense to your committee, that's more akin to a prospectus proposal than an exam.