TITLE: Personal advice ragarding Qualifying Exams
QUESTION [7 upvotes]: I am a Graduate student in Mathematics and in second Year.
I have  three qualifying exams in topics
Abstract algebra, Real and Complex
Analysis and Algebraic and differential topology.I already 
appeared for two times, but I didn't clear even a single
subject and got very low grades.  I will have a one more attempt 
and final attempt in January.  Since I want to do research in 
Mathematics, but I failed in qualifiers I lost my hope completely
now.  Can any one suggest ideas so that I can improve myself
and help me to prepare for the next qualifiers?
Thanks in advance.

REPLY [3 votes]: Another thing to do is to figure out why you did poorly on the exams. I had a friend in grad school who was very able, but did not put in the preparation necessary to pass the exams. Each time, she simply put in less time than was necessary to make sure that she understood the material at the level needed for the exams. (She went on to another university, passed the exams, and is on her way to a Ph.D.)
I would ask the other students that have passed the exams about their preparation. You should see if you are putting in the same amount of effort and studying the right content.