Oral assessment
PRESENTATION
This might be conducted individually or as a group assessment. You will be asked to present on a specific topic or to answer a question set of you. A presentation can include other materials and images as best suits you to answer the question. For example, you could choose to design your presentation where you talk to a series of slides. Or you might choose to present it by bringing physical objects to demonstrate what you are presenting. Often you have a lot of freedom with a presentation and can be quite creative! It gives you a chance to present many skills, but particularly your public speaking skills, and knowledge of your topic.
DEBATE
This is usually done with another person or another team presenting an alternative view of the same topic. For example, in law, you might be required to argue why you would choose to support capital punishments as a group or individually and the other side would be asked to present the view against capital punishment. You would demonstrate your skills in communications, presentation, strength of argument and knowledge of the topic, developed through your researching skills.
Oral defence or viva voce
This type of oral assessment is usually combined with another piece of work that you have already submitted, and it gives you the chance to expand upon your original work, or defend it to demonstrate the authenticity of the previously submitted work. For example, it is common that when you submit a dissertation or thesis for a major assessment or for a postgraduate or research degree, you will be asked to attend an oral defence afterwards. Examiners can then ask you about parts of the written work that they want clarification, or ask you to explain how you produced the idea or work in the first place. It’s a great way to show depth of knowledge, as well as how you respond to questions and can present information orally.