Forms of Assessment

 Viva Voce Examinations

Description

The viva is basically a security device, a posh (hence the Latin) academic version of oral questioning, conducted after the submission of the thesis for a research degree, to ensure that the candidate knows enough about the subject to make it at least plausible that the dissertation is his own work.

In non-modular programmes, there has also been a tradition of using the viva to determine borderline degree classifications. The convention has been that the outcome of the viva can only be positive, in bumping you up to the next grade—a lousy viva means that you stay with the lower grade. The cumulative assessment of modules in modular programmes has largely rendered this usage obsolete, although sample interviews with external examiners are used to clarify overall marking levels. These do not usually have an effect on the classification of an individual student's degree.

Indications

Contra-Indications

Special precautions

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To reference this page copy and paste the text below:

Atherton J S (2013) Learning and Teaching; [On-line: UK] retrieved from

Original material by James Atherton: last up-dated overall 10 February 2013

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