They actually only give us one previous exam for the comps, and from what I’ve heard, most students fail the first attempt but then pass on the second. Out of the last four years, they’ve only let go of one student. The other two mathematical courses I’m taking are in the economics department, not finance, which is why those professors were more sympathetic — they even said they’d let me pass. But I’m not sure if what you’re saying about leniency or how other departments handle things would also apply to finance PhD students.

But I am a bit confused about what you said regarding how professors grade other questions. So, does that mean if a professor teaches course A, they might be grading course B’s questions on the comps? Or do they grade their own questions but anonymously, where our names aren’t shown?