The viva voce, is the final hurdle in successfully completing your final year projects. It is also often the most feared part of final year project presentation fuelled by stories of evil external examiners and 8 hour long sessions.

The viva-voce session is where you will give a verbal defence of your completed project. The questions can be tricky, yet you have to convince the validator that you have the complete knowledge of your project and its impact.

Tips to face the viva-voce of your final year projects confidently

You are all pumped up about your final year project presentation as you have worked vigorously on both the project and presentation for so long. You have read all the IEEE papersrelated to your project and done intensive research on the subject. As I have mentioned in my previous blog, an effective presentation ensures high score for your final year projects, but that’s only job half-done.

Here are 10 tips to successfully complete the viva-voce session with high score.

1. Believe in Yourself

You have spent the past four years studying, researching and gaining knowledge on your area of interest. You are the expert. You know your stuff. Consider the possibility of the examiner being uninitiated in your chosen Project domain and genuinely want to learn stuff from you.

2. Go in with a Good Attitude

Don’t see the examiners as evil torturers who get kicks out of making you suffer. They want you to pass. However, if you go in thinking that they want you to fail you’ll not only be more scared, you’ll also be more defensive, which isn’t always a good thing. Instead try to think of your examiners as someone who is really interested in what you have done and who understand all the problems and pitfalls associated with research.

3. Calm Down and Breathe

Working yourself up is only going to make things worse. Have a good night’s sleep before the presentation. Find a way to relax, be it yoga, running, or meditation. It’s okay if you don’t get every answer right. Don’t get nervous over small mistakes and lose focus on the big picture.

4. Look Presentable

Firstly, looking good will help your self-esteem, making you feel more confident. Secondly, it shows the examiner that you are serious about your final year projects presentation and the viva, which of course you are, and you want them to know that too.

5. Read Your Project

While you have spent the last several months developing your project, you want to make sure it is fresh in your mind. This is especially true if you have had a long gap between completing your project and the exam. You don’t have to read it once a day every day until your viva, just make sure you go over it a few times before the presentation.

6. Make a list of Your Own Questions

As you go through your research paper and project, try to come up with your own questions and suitable explanations. Ask your friends to review your project to try to get a different perspective. This process enables you to see a pattern of the possible questions so that you can be equipped with all the answers.

7. Know the Rules

Make sure you have all the prerequisite documents and other stuff like pen drive with you before entering the presentation hall. Know the rules to be followed while presenting and answering questions.

8. Do Something Fun

Don’t spend all your time revising. You still need to have fun, or you’ll wear yourself down before the exam. You want to be fresh on the day, so go out and have some fun (maybe with those friends you’ve neglected over the last months).

9. Make Plans to Celebrate

Get a friend to organize something if you’re too busy or nervous. Having something pleasant to look forward to might have a good influence on the process. A Saturday night out with friends after so many nights of researching and preparing seems like a good idea.

10. Enjoy the Process

I know it may seem absurd, but this is the moment all the blood sweat and tears has been leading up to. Enjoy your moment in the spotlight. You will be surprised to find how good your viva session was. You get to discuss your thoughts and perspectives with people who are interested and you can gain new perspectives and Ideas!