Test preparation courses are for students looking to improve their performance on a test, usually for application to a higher learning program. Courses commonly focus on a specific test, providing insight into the style of questions as well as the information needed to answer them correctly.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.