Viva Voce
The viva voce is a short interview between the student and the supervisor, and is a recommended conclusion to the extended essay process. Students who do not attend the viva voce may be disadvantaged.
The viva voce serves the following purposes.
A check on plagiarism and malpractice in general
An opportunity to reflect on successes and difficulties in the research process
An opportunity to reflect on what has been learned
An aid to the supervisor’s report
The viva voce should last between 10 and 15 minutes. This is included in the recommended amount of time the supervisor should spend with the student. The following are examples of questions that can be asked, which should be adapted to the particular essay and student.
“I am not clear what you mean on page XXX. You quote Y: could you explain a little more about what this tells us?”
“On page *** you cite Z. I couldn’t find this reference (for example, website). Could you tell me more about it?”
“What have been the high and low points of the research and writing processes?”
“What were the most interesting aspects of the process? Did you discover anything that surprised you?”
“What have you learned through writing this essay? Is there any advice you would want to pass on to someone just starting out on an extended essay?”
“Is there anything else that you would particularly like me to mention in my report?”
In conducting the viva voce and writing the report, supervisors should bear in mind the following.
Examiners want to know that students understand any material (which must be properly referenced) that they have included in their essays. This is particularly important in subjects like mathematics. If the way the material is used in context in the essay does not clearly establish this, the supervisor can check the student’s understanding in the viva voce and report on it.
Minor slips in citation and referencing may lose the odd mark. If there appear to be major shortcomings, the supervisor should investigate thoroughly. No essay should be authenticated if the supervisor believes it contains plagiarism.
In assessing criterion K (holistic judgment), examiners will take into account any information given in the report about unusual intellectual inventiveness or persistence in the face of unexpected difficulties.
The report should not attempt to do the examiner’s job. It should refer to things, largely process-related, that may not be obvious in the essay itself.
Unless there are particular problems, the viva voce should end positively. Completion of a major piece of work such as the extended essay is something for students to feel good about.