Criteria for Oral Exams

Make sure the facts you present are correct. The information you present should always be accurate.
Offer details. Avoid superficiality.
Keep to the point. The information you present should be relevant for the topic. Avoid digressions.
Use linking devices and connectives to make your presentation look and sound coherent.

Keep to your line of argument!
Your speech should be well-structured, there needs to be some kind of logical progression.
Make your argumentation convincing. Instead of presenting faulty arguments, focus on valid points.
Use your notes Don’t look at them permanently.
Respect the code of politeness.

Speak naturally, without affectation. You also shouldn’t sound too formal, as in a written report. Avoid slang.
Speak fluently, don’t pause. Don’t interrupt yourself too often and don’t stop in the middle of a sentence.
Use rhetoric devices and imagery.
Don’t overuse fillers like “you know” or “kind of”.
Avoid “ums” and “ers”.

Your body language should be smooth, natural and appropriate. Don’t fidget with your hands and don’t tilt your chair.
Maintain eye contact for 80% of the time. Avoid staring though!
Check your facial expressions. Put on a friendly smile rather than maintaining a grim look all throughout the exam.
Speak clearly. Don’t swallow any syllables.
Vary your speaking rate. Go faster when you are passionate or slow down when you’re covering an important point.
Be confident, but not arrogant. Make sure you look relaxed and show you’re in full control of the situation.

The vocabulary you use should be varied – avoid repetition, use synonyms instead.
It should also be appropriate in this particular context.
Use correct grammar. Don’t make too many grammatical mistakes.
Don’t use extremely simple language. A certain level of complexity is always appreciated.
Check for stress, modulation and intonation. Avoid monotony.
Speak English. Don’t use your native language at all. Instead of resorting to your mother tongue, show how flexible you can be and paraphrase the word in question.

Whenever you use media, all equipment must be prepared and tested well ahead of time. Rehearse your speech to avoid technical problems.
Use media not only for decoration, but to support your speech.

Make your presentation interactive. Respond to what your partners say, don’t just take turns talking about your respective topics
Turn-taking is also important. Find ways how to feed each other lines.
Make active efforts to include all participants. Whenever participants can’t go on speaking, be prepared to assist them.
Make sure there is a balance between all participants. Neither part should be dominant.
The presentation needs to be well-coordinated among the speakers. Speaking roles must be clear, everyone needs to keep to their line of argument.

Kontext