Caution: This is unofficial advice from fellow grad students, and not department policy. See the Ph.D. Degree Requirements page for the final word on these topics.

The RPE is required of Ph.D. students before the end of the third year in the program. It's a “micro-thesis”, with a small supervisory committee and a presentation. One important twist, though, is the presentation is for people not in your area.

From the department Web site: “The Research Preparation Exam requires students to learn and demonstrate specific skills necessary to do research early in their careers.”

You need to “conduct research on [a] topic”, but we haven't got a clear, consistent explanation yet on what the thresholds for originality and significance are. In the mean time, make sure you agree with your committee in advance what this should be.

We would like to get more guidance from the faculty on the amount of motivation, context/background, literature review, methods description, expected in an RPE. In the mean time, make sure you agree with your committee in advance what this should be.

From the department Web site: “a general-CS audience”. Presumably, that means CS researchers, but not in your area, or even a related area. You presentation will need to have a mini-lesson on the relevant concepts of your area, but not a lesson on core CS topics.

For example, if you're in theory, perhaps target a grad student in A.I., or vice versa.

Your talk should definitely be rehearsed a few times with a practice audience. “Winging it” has led to bed results in the past.

About an hour, including questions and answers.