Conducting Viva and Oral Exams Online

A viva tests something a written paper cannot: how a candidate reasons and responds in real time. Moving that format online raises questions a purely written exam does not — scheduling across examiners, recording for review, and keeping the format fair when candidates are not in the same room.

What this guide covers

• Structuring a viva or oral exam so it is consistent across examiners and candidates
• Delivering voice-based assessments through an online platform
• Recording and reviewing sessions for moderation or appeals
• Benefits and trade-offs of moving oral exams online rather than running them in person

Who it is for

Faculty and examination departments responsible for conducting viva and oral assessments as part of a course or qualification.

The guide focuses on keeping the oral format's strengths — real-time reasoning and follow-up questioning — intact once the exam moves to an online setting, rather than treating it as a video call bolted onto an existing process.