You Are Here

Tag: viva expectations

Nathan

I Heart Expectations

Daily Post

Roses can be red,

But can also be blue;

Viva expectations are patterns,

But might not hold for you.

 

Viva expectations tell a story of likely future experiences. Everyone you know from your department is asked to prepare a presentation, so it’s likely you will be too.

Viva expectations are not perfect. Everyone you know may have had a viva of around two hours, but yours is closer to three in the event.

Statistics and stories help. The details can really matter, but the real help comes from looking deeper. Nevermind the first question or how long, what’s the purpose and process at work? What do you really need to do and know?

Nathan

On The One Hand…

Daily Post

…your examiners are experienced, they have to ask questions, they have to challenge you and they will be prepared for your viva when they arrive.

But on the other hand, you are experienced, you have experience at responding to questions, you can rise to challenges and you can be prepared for your viva when they arrive.

Everyone at your viva is capable, ready and engaged. The viva can be a difficult challenge and you can be ready for that challenge.

Nathan

Questions For Your Examiners

Daily Post

The viva is a discussion about you, your thesis and your PhD journey, along with other relevant related topics. Most questions in the viva will naturally flow from your examiners towards you because they’re examining you and your work.

The viva is a conversation though: you might have some questions of your own.

  • You might want to ask your examiners for their opinion on your work.
  • You might need clarification of a point they’re making.
  • You might need a question rephrased.
  • You might just want to know what they think about something.

You have space in the viva to ask your examiners questions. In most cases these opportunities will arise naturally, for example, asking for clarification. It could still help to think through what you would want to know more about if the moment came where you could ask them something.

The viva can be a great opportunity to ask some experts what they think.

Nathan

Quizzical

Daily Post

Some PhD candidates think of the viva as a TV quiz show. How do I know this? Because many, many candidates over the last decade have asked me questions like:

  • How many questions can I get wrong?
  • How can I score highly?
  • Can I pass on questions I don’t know?
  • How big is the thirty-second timer in the room?!

…OK, maybe they haven’t asked that last question! 🙂

But the questions people do ask give a window into how they think of something.

Thinking of the viva as being like a game show, even in some small ways, is not helpful. The viva is not a quiz show. Questions are not only true or false, they’re not multiple choice or needing to remember a fact.

The viva, first and foremost, is a discussion. That’s how you respond. That’s how you engage with your examiners.

Knowing things and being able to share information helps, but be ready for a conversation and not a quiz at your viva.

Nathan

The Meaning

Daily Post

A simple and effective way to tackle a tricky question in the viva is to look for the meaning behind it.

  • If your examiner challenges a method, look for why they might be doing that.
  • If you go blank or think “I don’t know” then ask yourself why.
  • If you can’t see what your examiners are getting at then ask them why.

Searching for the meaning behind a difficult question or comment is far better than trying to stumble your way to a few words. It’s far better than sitting in silence and hoping that something clicks.

Ask yourself why or ask your examiners why, and watch as information and ideas start to move.

Nathan

What They Want

Daily Post

Your examiners want to read a good thesis with interesting research.

They want to follow the viva regulations for your institution and meet the expectations of your field or disciplines.

They want to engage with a capable, knowledgeable candidate.

They want the hours of the viva to be an appropriate challenge for you.

They want to see you rise to that challenge.

So what will you do to give them what they want?

Nathan

Alright

Daily Post

Most vivas result in success, the majority result in minor corrections and a fair percentage are only one to two hours long. Questions are challenging but fair for the person who has to respond to them. However:

  • There are also long vivas.
  • There are tricky questions.
  • Some people do get major corrections.
  • And some candidates don’t enjoy the viva process.

What percentages of candidates have these experiences? Which candidates are more likely to have them? I don’t know. It would be almost impossible to say. But I do think if we try to summarise vivas with single attributes we can run into trouble. For example:

  • A long viva could be filled with interesting discussion. Tiring but satisfying.
  • Tricky questions can be fun to talk about or be only one out of hours of talking.
  • Major corrections will take work but will certainly make a thesis better.
  • Not enjoying the process could be for many reasons and would still most likely lead to passing.

I don’t think you can expect your viva to be the most amazing event of your life. I don’t think you can expect that it will be awful either. There’s a range of overlapping patterns of expectations that can guide you to getting ready.

Your viva will probably be neither “good” nor “bad”. Expect that it will be alright and expect that you will be fine.

Nathan

Talking Comfortably

Daily Post

I think a huge part of viva confidence for a candidate is based on feeling comfortable when talking about their research.

Examiners need to ask the candidate questions, they need to share opinions and they need the candidate to respond so that they can have a discussion and examine. Candidates have to do their part and want to do their part, but too often worry that they won’t be able to in the moment.

  • “What if I forget something?”
  • “What if there’s a long pause?”
  • “What if I don’t know something?”
  • “What if it’s a bit awkward or I’m hesitant?”

The short answer for all of these questions and worries is that the viva will still happen. It’ll continue however you feel, but will feel better for you if you’re able to talk with some confidence about your research and all the related things your examiners want to discuss.

How do you get to talk comfortably? You prepare. You read your thesis and think and make notes. More important than anything you take time to rehearse for being in the viva through opportunities like a mock viva.

You can’t be ready with pre-loaded responses to every conceivable question or comment.

You can be ready to engage with whatever question your examiners ask by taking time before the viva to rehearse.

Have a mock viva. Talk with friends. Talk with your supervisor. Make opportunities to be in situations where you’ll talk about your work and respond to questions. Make sure you have real experience before the viva so that you feel more comfortable talking about your PhD research.

Nathan

Most Vivas

Daily Post

Most vivas are not too long. They regularly result in minor corrections. They most often have two examiners, with a possibility for an independent chair as well. The great majority of vivas result in success.

Remember all this, but also remember that your viva will be unique. Your research, your contribution and you are all unique elements to your viva experience.

As you prepare, take time to reflect on what your viva will likely have in common with every other viva. Be sure to focus on what makes your contribution and journey unique too.

Nathan

Crisis

Daily Post

It feels like something big and earth-shattering has happened at least every few weeks for the last couple of years. The news starts to settle and something else comes up to disturb the peace.

This doesn’t have to be on a global or national scale either. In your daily life you can be upset and off-balance simply because the train is late, you catch a cold or you get sad news. Your short- and medium-term plans can be knocked to one side by somebody else’s change of plans or a sudden change of circumstances.

As you prepare for your viva, take a few small steps to help yourself just in case something was to go a little bit wrong:

  • Find and save emergency contact details for a member of staff who could help (if you had to postpone or an examiner cancelled, for example).
  • Plan your viva preparation with “wiggle room” – in case something disruptive happens.
  • Make as many decisions in advance as you can: what you’ll wear for the viva, what you need to have with you, what you will do on the morning of your viva day.

Build as much certainty as you can and take out small steps to guard against crisis and disruption.

Everything will be alright with your viva, but it might not all be exactly as you imagine or plan!

1 … 17 18 19 20 21 … 104