Perfectly Impossible

You can’t be perfect for your viva.

You can be prepared.

You can be polished.

You can be practised.

Also: you don’t need to be perfect.

You have invested years of work into practical research in your field, into reading and building your knowledge and into writing your thesis. You’re not perfect but you are very good.

Your examiners expect good, not perfect. You can clearly demonstrate by this stage that you are good.

PS: if you’re looking for more ideas of what to expect from your examiners and the viva then do take a look at Viva Survivors Select Volume 1, which I released yesterday. This is my complete collection of helpful viva zines from last year: eight issues, 165 posts from the archives and lots of new resources – and with an introductory offer price until 31st January 2026!