Oral exams were once an inherent part of the education system, tracing their roots back to the ancient Greeks. These exams have earned a somewhat tarnished reputation in the past few centuries in favour of written examinations, but is it time to reconsider their resurgence? This article examines the history of oral exams and looks at the potential benefits they offer in today’s technological age, as well as providing insights from academics and researchers.
Oral examinations are believed to have originated with the ancient Greeks, and their use by the Islamic world to assess knowledge and skills, as well as evaluate debates, is well documented. The University of Paris in the 13th century employed them as the final assessment, adjoined to the apprenticeship arrangement of students to a master in their relevant field.
However, the popularity of oral exams declined with the advent of the 17th century, as many universities opted for written evaluations and the convenience these gave examiners of hierarchical grades in the comfort of their homes. Very few institutions continued to prioritize oral exams, such as the high school systems in Norway, where students must take at least one oral exam in a randomly chosen subject each year.
Ken Purnell, Professor of Education at CQUniversity Australia, suggests that universities could use oral examinations to prevent plagiarism and hold students accountable for the content of their assignments. Oral exams could also be used to test complex tasks, such as asking students to create and verbally share a reflective journal in their field of study, as these types of tasks cannot be replicated by artificial intelligence chatbots.
My experience studying nutrition in Norway has afforded me the opportunity to take oral exams, and it has made me deeply aware of the benefits these exams have to offer. Compared to a written exam, where I am generally more focused on the content, taking an oral exam requires me to think on my feet, assess my answers critically and defend each one’s worth.
It is also worth noting that there have been no reported cases of cheating or plagiarism in oral exams, as there often can be during written exams. According to researcher Turid Horgen’s book Assessing the Viva in Higher Education, students in her study found the experience of a viva to be nerve-wrecking yet enlightening.
CQUniversity Australia is a member of The Conversation AU, offering scholarships and promotional awards to its students. In addition, the university believes in investing in the development and success of its students by providing them with a rich and diverse learning environment, incorporating cutting-edge technology to ensure that they have the best possible academic experience.
