Gather as much information about the qualifying exam as you can, such as the format, grading policies and length. To find this information speak to other students who have taken and passed the exam. Also talk to your graduate adviser and committee members and ask questions such as what subjects you should concentrate on, what they expect from you, what kind of questions the exam contains and what materials you are allowed to bring.
Research information about your qualifying exam committee members who administer the exam. Learn each member's area of expertise and background information such as what degrees they hold and where they earned them. Find out which magazines or journals the members were published in and the topic of the publications. Meet with all the members individually, multiple times if possible, so that you are familiar with their personalities and can anticipate questions they may ask during the qualifying exam.
Begin studying for the exam six months in advance, recommends the UC Davis website. Take a systematic approach in studying by learning the basics before studying specific information. Practice proposing your dissertation to your friends and peers and organize a practice exam. Keep up to date with the latest research in your field by reading current journals.
Minimize stress by choosing a location, date and time for the exam that you are comfortable with; schedule the exam several months in advance if possible. Contact committee members to confirm the exam's location and date at least a week before the exam. You can also reduce stress by preparing a response for questions to which you do not know the answer.
Plan for the day of the exam by selecting your professional outfit and arranging how you will get to the location of the exam. Plan to arrive half an hour early in order to set up any equipment or visual aids you need to use.