I`m curious if there is such an exam in other countries and what is it about? I`ve had first two years of my phd taking lessons. Now to be able to write a dissertation we must take the proficiency exam: oral and writen, questioning our theses proposal, our knowledge in the field we are going to work. Actually we did have a similar exam before being accepted to the phd, this is the second. if we fail to take this we can say goodbye to our phd? is there something similar in the place where you study?????