Concentrated

What do you need to help you focus well as you prepare for your viva? What can you do to help you focus on what you need to in your viva? Every candidate is different in terms of their situation, their research, their preferences, so the “right answer” for you might be very different to someone else.

To help you focus well as you prepare for your viva, you might…

• …need to clear specific times to get ready.
• …follow a particular plan as you approach the work.
• …need practical support.
• …want to use specific stationery or approaches that work for you.
• …keep a notebook of ideas and prompts to reflect on.

To help you focus well at the viva, you could…

• …add navigation prompts in advance to your thesis with sticky notes or bookmarks.
• …prepare by adding highlighting and underlining to your thesis pages.
• …ask your examiners to repeat questions.
• …make a note of questions as they’re asked.
• …rehearse well beforehand so that you’re prepared for the particular work of the viva.

These are all suggestions that might or might not work for you, depending on your preferences, situation and needs.

Start cultivating your concentration and focus for your viva by considering what you need.