Oral test

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Live oral test. Worth between 10-60%.

Type = Oral test

Category = In-semester test – secured

Description

Live oral test evaluates students' ability to articulate their knowledge and understanding verbally at identified interval/s during the learning period. This assessment type typically involves individual or group question & answer (Q&A) sessions or interviews, panel interviews, or viva voce examinations.

Note that "presentations" fall under Lane 2 Production and Creation - open.

Oral tests are designed to assess students' communication skills, critical thinking, and ability to respond to questions in real-time. They provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their depth of understanding and ability to engage in academic discourse. Oral tests may have some advantage over written tests for assuring student attainment of learning outcomes as they give the student the opportunity to clarify their understanding of the question(s) being asked, and for the examiner to ask further follow-up questions to gauge the student's depth of understanding of the content. However, some students may find the oral test a difficult format, for example due to language challenges or cultural differences. Unit of study coordinators should consider how to best support student preparation and ensure the marking rubric is structured so as to not unfairly disadvantage non-native speakers.

As a secure assessment, oral tests are conducted live and in-person to assure student attainment of learning outcomes. Oral tests may be standalone assessments, or additional components to another assessment, such as a presentation or submitted piece of work that may be a Lane 2 (open) assessment. 

Meaningful engagement with AI

Generative AI can be used in various ways in the preparation and conduct of oral tests. Unit of study coordinators may use AI to develop question guides and marking rubrics. AI can also be used to help students prepare for an oral test, to conduct the oral test (e.g. as a chat-bot avatar), or to help with feedback or quality improvement for the unit of study coordinator. 

• Before: Use AI to simulate interview scenarios and provide practice opportunities for students.
• During: Use AI-driven (+/- examiner co-piloted) platforms to perform the oral test, such as to generate follow-up questions to the student. An example of this could be an oral test that is observed by the examiner but performed between the student and a simulated client (custom AI) that has been trained to function in a specific way relevant to the learning outcomes being assessed.
• After: Utilise AI for automated transcription and analysis of oral responses to identify areas for improvement and provide actionable feedback. This may be provided to the student as feedback on their learning; and/or provided to the unit coordinator to identify common areas where students seem to struggle. This may help unit coordinators to identify necessary improvements for content delivery - e.g. suitable focus points for tutorials or lectures in current or future iterations of the unit of study.

Examples

• Individual or group presentations on a specific topic, followed by a Q&A session. 
• Individual or group Q&A session on the content of a submitted piece of work, such as a comprehensive exercise plan or a report. See Case Defense, common in Exercise Physiology, Physiotherapy senior units of study
• Panel interviews where students answer questions from multiple examiners.
• Viva voce examinations for thesis defence.

Groupwork opportunities

An oral test may take an individual or group format.

An oral test in the form of a live Q&A session or interview performed individually or as a group may be an additional secure component of an existing open groupwork assessment. Including a group Q&A session as part of a group assessment such as a presentation encourages students to work together and discuss their proposed approach to the oral component prior to the Q&A session, developing their communication and collaboration skills and assisting them in learning how to manage potential conflict. These interactions not only deepen intellectual engagement but also promote the development of essential interpersonal and professional skills, equipping students to work effectively in diverse and collaborative settings.

Other resources 

The Oral test is one format for an oral assessment. Other kinds of oral assessment include:

• Oral exam 
• Interactive oral assessment
• Viva voce