[natechols]

For most people in my program and others like it (molecular biology, US) the decision point tended to be at the end of the second year, after the qualifying exam(s). This is because the first year tends to be full of lab rotations and some classes, and you don't really start doing research until nine months in.

[XorNot]

My program was pure research, so I'd say that decision point lines up pretty well with the "1 year of research in, are you looking good?"

Though it seems weird to me to be in classes and labs without it being associated with it's own academic achievement (did that qualify as a certificate of any sort?)

[natechols]

If you dropped out after passing the qualifying exam, you got an MS.