Guide to viva survival

          Before the examination

          • Have plenty of practice with your seniors using past essay and viva questions
           
          • Learn to compose your answer. So that the examiners would not think that you are waffling or trying to memory a list.
                    For example:
                     Q. What are the complications of vitrectomy?
            You may give a list of causes which are certain to bore the examiner or you can score better by classifying the complication to either early or late; or better still in anatomical order
          • Learn to give an ordered differential diagnosis instead of list

            •  
            For example:
            Q. What are the causes of leukoma?

            You may give one hundred and one causes to bore the examiner or you can classify the causes into congenital or  acquired. Acquired can be neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious etc.

          • Learn to manage a problem in a logical way.

            •  
            For example:
            Q. How do you management a child who can not see?

             You may jump into the differential diagnosis which most examiner dislike or mention that you like to begin with history (avoid using the words "I like to take a good history" as some examiners may be irritated by this statement and may reply would you take a bad history?), physical examination, investigation as the history or physical findings suggest)

          • Think laterally. Do not confine your answer to a restricted area. This can only be achieved through constant practice.

            •  
            For example:
            Q. What are the ocular manifestations of carotid artery stenosis?

            You may confine your answer to the eyeball (restrictive) or you can also include neuro-ophthalmic manifestation with CVA such as visual field loss

            Q. What are the ocular manifestations of multiple sclerosis?

            You may confine your answer to optic neuritis and ocular motility problems(restrictive) or you can also include anterior uveitis, par planitis and visual field loss

          • Practice your viva with a recorder can help you to note if you sound doubtful, hesitance or indistinct.
           

          During the examination
           

          • Dress conservatively
           
          • Look the examiner in the eyes
           
          • If the question is too difficult for you to answer or you find yourself in a dead end. It is OK to say you don't know. This allow new questions to be asked instead of wasting valuable time
           
          • The examiner may be wrong but do not argue with him/her, the second examiner will usually tactfully point out his / her mistakes in your absence.
         
          Click here for common questions in :
                  ophthalmology viva
                                                                  medical viva
                                                                  pathology viva

                          Click here to return to the home page