Plural normally Qualifying exam. An exam taken by someone (usually a grad student or prospective grad student) to measure their mastery in something, usually an academic field.
He'd refused to say anything more, because he didn't want to distract her with his problems on the eve of the Quals.2000, Stephen Cannell, The Devil's Workshop: A Novel, HarperCollins, page 12:
To be a theorist, you also had to pass a special theory section on the quals.2004, Emanuel Derman, My Life as a Quant: Reflections on Physics and Finance, John Wiley & Sons, page 30:
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Qualitative analysis or research.
We believe there is a role for both qual and quant in professional services.2015, Nigel Clark, Professional Services Marketing Handbook: How to Build Relationships, Grow Your Firm and Become a Client Champion, London: Kogan Page Publishers, page 70:
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Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsAlternative Alternative form of quali.
qual
adj
Etymology Clipping of qualified
1
Abbreviation Short for qualitative
Finally, in the school of education, I found coursework that included qual and quant methodology.2012, Judith M. Meloy, Twenty-first Century Learning by Doing, Rotterdam: Sense Publishers, page 24:
QUAL
noun
1
qualification exam for artificial intelligence
Well, that reminds me of the QUAL [qualification exam for artificial intelligence].1992, Ralph Morelli, Minds, Brains, and Computers: Perspectives in Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence, Intellect Books, published 1992, page 144: