Resources for unit 6

7.3. Oral assessments

An oral assessment is a type of open-ended question in which a student is asked to verbally respond to questions or present information. It is often used to assess a student’s knowledge, communication skills, critical thinking, and ability to articulate their understanding of a subject in real time.

i.      Types of oral assessments

• Question-and-answer sessions: The examiner asks the student a series of questions, and the student responds verbally. These sessions test the student’s recall, understanding, and ability to explain concepts in their own words. Example: A student might be asked about key concepts in a history exam, such as Can you explain the significance of the Industrial Revolution?
• Presentations: The student is asked to present a specific topic, which could be related to course content or a research project, to an examiner or panel. This type of oral exam assesses the student’s ability to organize and present information clearly and coherently. Example: A student may present on a scientific discovery, explaining its background, findings, and implications.
• Viva voce (or oral defence): This is often used in higher education, where students defend their thesis or research findings in front of an examiner or a panel. Oral defence tests the depth of a student’s research, understanding of their topic, and ability to engage in critical discussion. Example: In a PhD defence, the candidate might be asked detailed questions about their research methodology, data analysis, and conclusions.
• Role-play or simulation: The student is given a hypothetical situation (often related to their field of study) and asked to respond or act as though they are in that scenario. Role plays test a student’s ability to apply knowledge in real-world or practical situations. Example: A medical student might simulate a patient consultation, where they explain a diagnosis and treatment options to a patient.
•  
• ii.     Advantages of oral examinations
• Assesses communication skills: Oral exams allow teachers to assess not only students’ knowledge but also their ability to communicate clearly, and express ideas effectively (verbal expression, clarity of thought, and ability to articulate ideas) which are important skills beyond written knowledge.
• Immediate interaction: The examiner can engage in dialogue with the student, ask follow-up questions and clarify answers in real time, providing a deeper understanding of the student’s knowledge and deeper exploration of topics.
• Immediate feedback: Students often receive immediate feedback from the examiner, which can be constructive and guide their learning.
• Adaptability: Examiners can adjust the difficulty or direction of questions based on the student’s responses, tailoring the assessment to individual ability levels.
• Reduce memorization: Unlike written exams, which may focus on rote memorization, oral exams allow students to demonstrate their understanding and reasoning processes.
• Test Higher-Order Thinking: Oral exams encourage students to think critically and respond in real-time, making them suitable for testing analysis, synthesis, and application of knowledge.
• Encourage critical thinking: Students must think on their feet and demonstrate understanding rather than just recalling memorized answers.
• Reduce cheating: Since the interaction is direct and spontaneous, it’s harder for students to cheat compared to written exams.

iii.   Disadvantages of oral examinations

• Subjectivity in grading: Scoring may vary depending on the examiner’s judgment, potentially leading to inconsistent or biased results. It depends on the examiner’s interpretation of the student’s responses. Besides, Examiners might unintentionally favor students with better verbal communication skills, which may not always correlate with their actual understanding of the content (potential for bias).
• Anxiety and nervousness: Some students may perform poorly due to stress or fear of speaking, which may not accurately reflect their knowledge.
• Time-consuming: Oral exams take more time per student compared to written tests, making them less practical for large groups.
• Limited scope: It may be difficult to cover a wide range of content within the limited time of an oral exam.
• Resource intensive: Requires a quiet, private setting and skilled examiners, which may be challenging to organize regularly.