Exam presentation

Exam presentation

As a rule, each group member will give a 5 minute oral presentation; however, depending on the type of examination the length of oral presentations may differ, so remember to check this with your supervisor beforehand.

It might be a good idea for the entire group to discuss how to structure your individual presentations, and you may also discuss their contents. Naturally, group members are allowed to give presentations on identical subjects; however, it might be a good idea to create a sense of cohesion in your presentations, this allows you to cover all relevant subjects and thus improve your overall performance. If you choose to prepare your presentations together, you must keep in mind that all presentations must essentially be strong; you must not leave one group member to give a ‘weak’ presentation. Make sure that all presentations contribute something new to the project and that all group members are satisfied and feel confident about their presentations.

In general, you might want to look at your presentation as an extension of your project work; if you have detected any errors or shortcomings, the exam may be your opportunity to rectify these; also, if you have a good idea as to how you might have approached your issue differently, you might want to present this during your exam.
Bear in mind that your presentation must not be a mere reproduction of what you have already written in your project. Instead, your presentation is your opportunity to show what you can do, so do not miss this opportunity by merely repeating what your examiner/supervisor and external examiner have already read. You might also want to discuss exam presentations with your supervisor and ask for his/her ideas. Some supervisors prefer that students further reflect on their project or issue while others prefer that students take a more critical approach to their work. However, after having submitted your project, you are not allowed to contact your supervisor until after your examination, so remember to discuss your exam prior to your submission deadline.

Remember, the oral exam is a conversation, and everything is in your favour. You are the sole expert in your project, and this is your chance to elaborate on your work and explain your thoughts and ideas. Bear in mind that your supervisor and external examiner mean you no harm. Although an exam may seem intimidating, it is essentially just a conversation between you and two other people who have an academic interest in your work.