qualifying

noun

verbal noun of qualify
A qualification or added condition.
“No expostulations! No buts, girl! No qualifyings, I will be obeyed, I tell you; and chearfully too!”
An examination that must be taken in order to qualify.
“Despite possible lore among graduate students to the contrary, most faculty members dread having to fail a student in the qualifyings.”
A preliminary competition in which successful competitors gain entry into, and/or a favourable starting position in, a subsequent competition.
“McLaren driver Hamilton was never in contention after making a disastrous mistake to crash out in qualifying and then starting at the back of the grid after a penalty for changing his gearbox.”
“Wales claimed their first points in Euro 2012 qualifying with a morale-boosting victory in Cardiff over former Group G joint leaders Montenegro.”