Testing with success series 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 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 suc