This small list of tips is of relevance both to our Hedda master students, but also to others taking an oral exam in various areas of social sciences. While the tips are for the most part applicable to all, be sure to read carefully the exam guidelines at your university – they might differ in their emphasis.
Perhaps obvious, but preparation really matters.
An oral exam also puts focus on being able to have a comprehensive grasp on the material, so it is not enough to merely focus on topics one by one, you should be able to see the bigger picture as well. While in depth knowledge about each area is necessary as well, how are the various areas connected? Prepare mind maps, talk to fellow students – where are the tensions and where are the overlaps? Do you see linkages to current public debates about the issue? Do not assume that if you are good at talking, this would mean you can avoid thorough preparation.
Be critical if needed.
You are absolutely welcome to also be critical about the course literature. Is this relevant for your country? Is something perhaps less relevant now than before? Why? But remember, you have to have arguments to back up your claims. Being critical just to be critical is not useful. Not liking a model is not a valid argument. Saying it is not relevant for your country in itself is also not enough – you have to exemplify why and how.
Beware of the common sense trap.
While linking to current public debates shows you understand the topic or theory, your main concern should be on the relevant material from the course content. It is always good to reflect on a real life problem, but when discussing this, be sure to use the analytical tools from the course to avoid sounding common sense – try to see behind the obvious. If you mean there is poor quality or funding in your country – how is this linked to the relevant analytical concepts you talked about in course? Furthermore, while your own experiences as a student might be relevant when discussing teaching quality, be also careful when making generalisations based on that.
Beware of the time.
This is particularly important when bringing in your own experiences and opinions. Is it time well spent to use 15 min to describe your own experiences as a student? Or should you use this time to showcase your knowledge of the material? If you think you can use this to cover up gaps in your knowledge, this usually does not work as you end up in the common sense trap and do not really show your knowledge of what is relevant for the exam. You need to say the relevant things, not just fill the time with saying something.
Be strategic in what you bring up.
Examiners often follow up on what you bring to the table. If you mention quality, it is likely you will get a follow-up question about that. If you mention links to globalisation process, you might be ask to define it. This is also an opportunity for you to steer the topics of the exam. But don’t count on talking about one thing the whole time and thus only focus on one or a few topics in your preparation, examiners tend to ask quick and to-the-point questions about other areas as well if they feel the exam time does not cover enough topics. Nevertheless, this is a means to showcase what you can.
Use the right language.
What kind of terminology is used in the literature? Use it when you talk. But, do not plot in as much jargon as you can when you do now know what these things mean. Failing to be able to define a concept you just used to describe something might leave an impression that you do not really understand what you say.
Make sure you understand the question.
Do not be afraid to ask the examiner to reformulate a question if you are uncertain. This is much better than giving an irrelevant answer, and definitely nothing to be afraid of.
Practice.
If this is your first time doing an oral exam, try to practice the format beforehand. You can do this with your fellow classmates or others who can ask you relevant questions. Doing this kind of role play actually really helps and gives you an indication how it is going to be. It sounds silly at first, but it actually works surprisingly well.
Relax.
The examiners are not there to grill you and identify every small uncertainty you have, they want to know what you can and how much you understand the field. The best exams are when you can have a conversation between examiner and student. If you feel you just are completely blank on a question, do not panic – this can happen even when you are well prepared. If this happens, say so and ask for a hint instead of saying “I don’t know”. If you are prepared, a hint usually helps a lot so you can unlock your little blank moment.
Perhaps one could wish good luck here, but honestly, with any exams it is best to not leave it to luck.