Healthy Lifestyle
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.
See the Guide "Test Preparation" in this web site.
See the Guide "Anticipating Test Content" in this web site
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 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.
See the Guide "Test Preparation" in this web site.
See the Guide "Anticipating Test Content" in this web site
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