Prelims
The use of the term Prelim (short for preliminary examination) varies by program and may be synonymous to qualifying exam but it generally refers to an examination (usually one from a sequence) that qualifies a student to continue studies at a higher level, and/or allow the student to comprehend his/her studies and see how prepared they are for the looming examinations. It is almost a gauge on how knowledgeable one is within the chosen subject.
These exams may pre-date the qualifying exam at some institutions. Although some universities combine both concepts into one exam.
United States graduate programs