viva voce exam

7/28/2019 Viva Voce Exam

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VIVA VOCE

INTRODUCTION: viva voce examination or oral examination consisting of a

dialogue where the examiner asks questions and the candidate will reply.

Short open answers based on educational objectives.

MCQ

A series of questions not necessarily inter-related questions.

An oral examination used to test the ability of the candidate to present

their knowledge of the matter being examined

Traditionally, the oral examination occurs after the written final exams

This method is sometimes used in undergraduate programmes but is

more commonly used to assess the submission of a thesis at the end of a

doctoral programme.

Viva voce examination is an examination which may be used to help

determine a candidate's overall result in addition to the normal methods

of assessment.

AIMS OF VIVA VOCE EXAMINATION:

To assess a students ability to communicate orally with another person.

To use simulation method, e.g. role play, telephone conversation.

To ask questions which will allow the candidate to demonstrate his/her

strengths

REQUIREMENT TO HOLD AN ORAL EXAMINATION

All candidates for doctoral degrees and for the degree of MPhil are required to

attend an oral examination after the first submission of the thesis. In the case

of MA/MSc/LLM/MS degrees, an oral examination shall be held where one or

both examiners considers this to be necessary to the examination process.

FORMAT OF VIVA VOCE EXAMINATION

1. Viva voce panels should normally consist of a minimum of two examiners,

one of whom must be a formally appointed external examiner, who will act as


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chair. Departments may use their discretion as to whether they would wish aninternal examiner to be present.2. Questions asked of candidates must be appropriate to the reason for theviva, and related to the learning aims and outcomes of the programme so thatcandidates are treated equitably.

3. Examiners will seek to establish through the viva voce examinationwhether, in borderline cases, the students performance meets the appropriatestandard for the award of a higher mark or classification. A students existingmark or classification will not be downgraded under any circumstances.

4. Accurate records of the questions and answers given should be kept, inorder to ensure fairness and as a record of the discussion in the event of anappeal.

5.The Board of Examiners shall determine the date, time and place of a vivavoce examination

PRINCIPLES TO CONDUCT VIVA VOCE EXAMINATION

The viva should not be limited to a single question or topic but shouldcover a range of different issues this is to avoid the results of the vivabeing skewed by selecting a topic which the candidate can answerexceptionally well or about which she/he knows nothing. However, all

questions should be strictly relevant to the purpose of the viva.

Do not use long preambles to questions. Examiners should talk as littleas possible during the viva.

The chair of the examiners must remain in charge of the session andmust deal appropriately with any problem candidate or difficult situation.

When the last question is being asked; allow the student to completehis/her answer and end the session formally.

Viva voce examinations should not normally exceed 30 minute

Candidates should be examined individually.

Candidates should be given adequate notice of the possibility of being calledto attend a viva, and this should normally be not less than 24 hours.


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ADVANTAGES:

Provides direct personal contact with the candidates Provides opportunity to take mitigating circumstances into account.

Provides flexibility in moving from candidates strong point to weekpoint.

The candidate has to formulate his own replies without cues.

Possibility to question the student, how he arrived to an answer.

Opportunity for simultaneous assessment by two or more examiners.

DISADVANTAGES:

lacks standardisation, objectivity and reproducibility of results Permits favouritisms and personal abuse of the personal contact.

Shortage of trained examiners to administer the examination.

Costly in terms of professional time and limited value of the information.

REFERENCES:

Neeraja K P. Textbook of Nursing Education.1st edition. Jaypee Brothers2007.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/ academicoffice/gsp/examiner/oral/ Guidance on viva voce examinations for taught post graduate degree

(2002) corporate services section, kings college London.

Pearce G and Lee G 2009 viva voce (oral examination0as an assessmentmethod. J. Market Edu. 31(2):120-130.
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/%20academicoffice/gsp/examiner/oral/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/%20academicoffice/gsp/examiner/oral/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/%20academicoffice/gsp/examiner/oral/

viva voce exam

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