Comprehensive exams

Ability to synthesize:

• General and field-specific knowledge of the discipline
  • Goal of the general component of the examination: The doctoral candidate is expected to demonstrate the breadth, depth, and synthesis abilities, as well as an extensive and critical understanding of the major perspectives and debates in the broader field.
  • Goal of the specific component of the examination: Similar to the general component, however, related to a specific area of focus of the candidate’s anticipated thesis.
  • Definition and appropriate use of concepts.
  • Ability to link various authors and perspectives.
• Mastery of the relevant literature in the field.
  • Knowledge of theories and approaches relevant to the field of expertise.
  • Knowledge of the main issues and debates in the discipline.
• Organization of the text according to the program requirements.

Analytical ability

• Understand the relevant research methodologies.
• Communicate effectively in one of the two official languages.
  • Clear answers to the exam questions based on the review of the evidence and/or literature.
  • Critical capacity
  • Originality of the argument
• Situate the proposed work in the context of the broader field of the research.

Evaluation committee consists of the thesis committee members, which should already have been approved by the program director in the first terms of enrollment. 

No need for a second approval.

The student draws up a list of references related to the agreed field of study, to be approved first by the thesis supervisor and then by the evaluation committee.

The purpose of the reading list:

• Guide the students when answering questions during the examination;
• Help formulate exam questions;
• Create a common forum for discussion during the oral component of the comprehensive exam;
• Provide students with historical and current perspective on issues related to their field of study.

During the question formulation process, the student discusses the nature of the questions with their supervisor. They may, for example, suggest aspects they would like to explore in greater depth. It is understood that the questions will not be shared with the student before the examination.

The questions are written by the supervisor in collaboration with the members of the evaluation committee. 

3.1 APPROVAL OF THE QUESTIONS

Upon unanimous agreement on the questions, the supervisor completes the Written Comprehensive Examination Questions form and ensure it indicates the tentative date for the oral component on the form. This form must be sent to the program director at [email protected] no later than the 1^st of the month (or next business day).

The director has until the 25^th of the same month to review, approve and send the Written Comprehensive Examination Questions to [email protected] and [email protected]. If the questions are received after the 25^th, they will be sent to the student during the next evaluation period. Please refer to the schedule below for the relevant dates.

*This schedule is based on the course sequence where enrollment to EDU 9998 begins in the 3^rd term. The same principle applies if the first enrollment occurs in a different term.

Start of the Written Component of the Comprehensive Examination

On the day of the evaluation (1^st of the month), the Graduate Studies Office emails the questions to the student, specifying the submission deadline. The student has 30 days (including weekends) to complete the written exam.

Important: Since this is an examination, the text submitted by the student must be an original work written by the student. In no way can this document be the fruit of a collective effort. Thus, while it is legitimate for a student to ask his or her supervisor for some advice, they are not authorized to ask for a pre-evaluation of their work from the members of the evaluation committee or colleagues.

In addition to meeting the evaluation criteria listed on the Evaluation Grid, the text must respect the current conventions governing the presentation of research articles, specifically those of the American Psychological Association (APA). The student must also pay particular attention to the points listed below.

•  Length of the answers: Although length is by no means a guarantee of quality, answers to each question should be between 3,500 and 4,000 words. The text should be typed in Times New Roman 12-point font, with paragraphs one and a half spaces apart. Pages must be numbered.
• Personal synthesis: Answers must demonstrate rigorous analytical and argumentation skills. In addition, the student must develop a capacity for synthesis while demonstrating a thorough knowledge of the areas of specialization coved by the exam questions.
• Quality of written language: Students may write their comprehensive exam in either French or English. The quality of the written language is essential; committee members may reject any exam containing too many lexical, grammatical and/or syntactical spelling errors.

Submission of the Written Component

The student must submit the completed examination to [email protected] by the specified deadline. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a failure.

In the case of exceptional circumstances that interfere with the production of the comprehensive examination, such as a medical emergency, the student must contact the Academic Office by email at [email protected] to find out how to proceed. Supporting documentation must be provided by the student.

Evaluation of the Written Component

The day following the receipt of the written examination, the Graduate Studies Office sends it for evaluation to the evaluation committee with [email protected] in copy. The evaluation committee has 15 business days to evaluate the written exam.

During the evaluation period, students must not discuss exam questions with their supervisor, the evaluation committee, faculty members or graduate students.

Each committee member must evaluate the answers by completing the Evaluation Grid form. It is important to include detailed comments and indicate a verdict for each question.

On the 16^th day, each member of the evaluation committee sends their evaluation report by email to the supervisor and [email protected]. If all reports are satisfactory, the supervisor will communicate the verdict by email to the student and [email protected] within 5 working days. *Verdicts must be unanimous.

To ensure a satisfactory outcome, please make sure the timelines are respected.

The supervisor meets with the student to discuss the comments received from the committee members regarding the written test to prepare the student for the oral test.

* IF ONE OR MORE VERDICTS ARE NOT SATISFACTORY,

• [email protected] will arrange a meeting between director, thesis supervisor, committee members and student, and inform [email protected].
  • The verdict is shared with [email protected] by the supervisor following that meeting.
    • The supervisor must also indicate a new tentative date for the oral component and specify which question(s) must be repeated
  • A grade of NS (Not Satisfactory) will be recorded for EDU 9998.

*The failing grade remains on the transcript even if the comprehensive exam is passed at the retake.

Supplemental Written Examination

The student must answer the failed question(s) again, taking into account the feedback received in the assessment reports.

Steps for the supplemental exam:

• The student must enrol for EDU 9998.
• The supervisor meets with the student to discuss the content of the evaluation.
• The supplemental exam will start on the 1^st of the following month (or the next business day).
• The Graduate Studies Office sends the details of the supplemental examination by email to the student.
• The student has 30 days (including weekends and holidays) to complete the supplemental examination.
• The supplemental exam must meet the same requirements as those indicated in Section 4 a.
• The evaluation follows the same procedures as those indicated in Section 4.

In the event that the evaluation of the supplemental exam is not unanimously satisfactory, the student will receive a second failing grade and will be withdrawn from the program.

The oral exam consists of a presentation (15 to 20 minutes) of the major aspects of the work and answers to the questions from the evaluation committee. Its purpose is to:

1. Clarify certain aspects;
2. Examine a personal position;
3. Participate in the discussion;
4. Verify the authenticity of the essay.

During this test, the evaluation committee may ask the student to summarize, defend, clarify, qualify, correct, or supplement their answers from the exam. They may also ask the student to make generalizations about the ideas expressed, or to show links between the ideas in the written exam and contradictory or complementary concepts in the discipline.

Planning of the Oral Component

The date, time and location are set by the supervisor. Usually, the oral exam takes place no later than 14 days (including weekends and holidays) after the written examination has been evaluated.

Evaluation of the Oral Component

*The oral exam is not open to the public.

The general criteria for the evaluation of the oral evaluation are:

• In-depth knowledge of the subject;
• Capacity for critical analysis;
• Ability to synthesize;
• Ability to express ideas and argue orally.

Following the oral presentation, the evaluation committee awards a grade of S (satisfactory) or NS (not satisfactory) for the entire comprehensive exam (written and oral components), by completing the Evaluation Report form. Once completed, they forward it to the supervisor. The supervisor has 10 working days to send the completed form with the final grade to the student and [email protected].

If the entire comprehensive examination is deemed satisfactory, a grade of S (satisfactory) is recorded in the student’s file, and they can proceed to the next step.

Supplemental Oral Examination

If the student passes the written component of the initial comprehensive examination, but fails the oral component, they have the opportunity to take a supplemental examination. The evaluation committee must justify the reasons for failure in writing. The grade NS (not satisfactory) is recorded in the student’s file.

The supplemental exam must take place within 15 days (including weekends and holidays) of the date of the first oral exam. If the supplemental exam is in the following term, the student must enrol again to EDU 9998.

If the oral exam is passed, a grade of S (satisfactory) is recorded in the student’s file. However, if the student fails the supplemental exam, they will receive a second failing grade and will be withdrawn from the program.