|
Study Guide & Strategies
Preparing for, and taking,
Oral Exams
The oral exam is an
opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge, your
presentation/speaking skills, as well as your ability to
communicate. They can also be good practice for job interviews!
The exam can be formal, or informal,
but you should consider all exams formal exchanges in order to make
a good impression. For both types, you must listen carefully to the
question, and answer directly.
Formal exams follow
a list of questions in a prepared format. The criteria for
evaluation is usually set in a right/wrong format, and can be
competitive. For this type of exam, if you wish to add "related"
or qualified information, ask permission first as a courtesy.
Informal exams are
more open, your responses are usually longer, and evaluations can be
more subjective. Answers are often less exact (right/wrong), and
value is added for problem solving analysis and method, as well as
interpersonal communication and presentation.
There are three components to
a successful oral exam:
Preparation
Ask your teacher
what will be on the exam.
Study. If you do not study, you will not do
well.
Write out questions you
expect to be asked, then
Discuss answering techniques with
people in the field or who have had the test
Practice answering with classmates
Practice in a similar setting, in front of a mirror, to evaluate
your "manner"
Verify the date,
time and location; confirm these with your instructor
If you use computing, projection, or media
systems,
practice with the equipment the day before, and verify an hour
or so before the test if possible.
The Exam
Look and act
professional! Create a good impression.
Dress well and appropriately, turn off cell phones and pagers;
Arrive at the location
early to collect yourself and check out the situation,
but wait until your scheduled time to keep the appointment.
This is a time for relaxed focus, not cramming or review.
The exam begins
the minute you walk in:
Introduce yourself immediately
Give the instructor all of your attention; look interested and
smile!
Keep good posture and eye contact;
If there are distractions (noise outside, etc,) you may mention
your distraction and/or nervousness.
Stay focused
through the interview.
Be an intelligent listener as well as talker.
Do not ramble if
you do not know an answer.
State directly that you do not know the answer but ask if you
could outline how you would find the answer, solve the problem,
or the method you would employ.
Maintain your
self-confidence and composure
if you feel the interview is not going well. The interviewer may
be testing you.
Answer questions with
more than "yes" or "no".
Stress the positive and not the negative.
Use two or three key points or examples to demonstrate your
knowledge
Watch for signs that the test is over
(i.e., the interviewer looks at the clock, moves the chair back,
or completes a set of questions)
Ask if there is anything
you could answer that would add to your evaluation
Thank the instructor
Follow-up
Summarize your
performance; where you did well or poorly
Keep a written record
Note how you could do
better for the next time
Note if there was a
significant "event" during the interview
If you have questions or
comments on either the material or your performance, do
not hesitate to speak with the instructor. Do not challenge the
teacher, but seek to understand your performance.
If you have concerns
about an inappropriate evaluation after raising concerns with
your teacher, discuss them with that department's, or your
school's, academic counseling center or a higher authority.
Back to Study Guide & Strategies
Back
to Home
|
