What is an Oral Exam?

In many schools and disciplines, the oral exam is a long-standing tradition in which students are asked questions in a spoken format. The students must then respond to questions based on the material they studied in preparation for the exam. Passing the exam or receiving an actual grade depends on demonstrating sufficient knowledge in the subject.

Oral exams are used in a variety of situations in college and career studies. Students may be required to prove knowledge of material and demonstrate sufficient understanding of a subject area as part of their graduation from an undergraduate or graduate program. Many science majors complete their bachelor’s degrees with oral exams, or a program may require both oral and written exams to demonstrate that a student has grasped all of the material covered over a four-year period. For these exams, study guides or a syllabus are usually available, so students who are prepared are less likely to be surprised the questions they are asked.

Medical schools may use the oral exam to assess not only knowledge but also the ability to think quickly in 2nd and 3rd year students. Before receiving a PhD, many psychologists in the United States are required to take an oral exam. Some schools allow students to choose between taking written and oral exams or completing a project or thesis, while others require all three. Oral exams are often distinguished from thesis defenses, which include questions but are much more focused on the thesis topic.

For some oral exams, students may be able to select their examiners, which is an important factor to consider. It’s critical to consider each teacher’s personality as well as the relationships that staff members have with one another. In order to prove each other wrong, a squabbling faculty may decide to make a student a helpless victim. This is a student’s worst nightmare, and it should be avoided whenever possible. It’s more likely to happen in studies with a lot of interpretive material.

Practice is an important tip for students. Students may not be able to anticipate all of the questions, but they can practice responding to questions posed classmates or peers while sitting or standing up straight. Students should also plan to dress simply but respectfully on the day of the exam, in accordance with any dress code requirements.

Exam takers should keep in mind how much they have studied, which should be quite a bit. Nerves can cause even the brightest student to lose track of information, but taking a deep breath and reminding oneself that the oral exam is a great way to demonstrate how much one has learned from teachers can help overcome nervous moments. Any other relaxation techniques that may be beneficial can be used.

For students with writing problems in grades below or in college, an oral exam may be used as an alternative to a written exam. If they didn’t have to write things down, some students with dysgraphia or disorders like dyspraxia or nonverbal learning disorder could excel in school. Parents may be able to use individualized educational plans (IEPs) or 504 meetings to inquire about students taking oral tests instead of written exams to demonstrate their knowledge. When this request is granted, students’ grades often improve dramatically.