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Home » Blog » How to Prepare for Your Dissertation Viva | EasyMarks

Academic Writing Tips

How to Prepare for Your Viva

Know your work inside out and walk in ready to defend it with confidence.

7 min read · Written by UK academic writers

Quick Answer

Prepare for a viva by knowing your thesis thoroughly, anticipating common questions about your contribution, methodology and limitations, and practising your answers out loud. The viva is a discussion in which you defend and explain your research, not a hostile exam.

A viva can be nerve-wracking, but it is a conversation about work you know better than anyone. Good preparation turns anxiety into confidence. This guide covers how to get ready.

Know Your Thesis Inside Out

Reread your dissertation closely and be able to summarise its aim, contribution and key findings in a few sentences. Examiners expect you to know your own work deeply.

Anticipate Common Questions

Most vivas explore a predictable set of areas, so prepare answers in advance.

Why did you choose this topic and approach?
What is your original contribution?
Why did you select this methodology?
What are the limitations of your study?
What would you do differently, and what next?

Practise Out Loud

Rehearse answering questions aloud, ideally in a mock viva with a supervisor or peer. Speaking your answers is very different from thinking them, and practice builds fluency.

Prepare to Defend, Not Just Describe

Be ready to justify your choices and respond to challenges calmly. Disagreeing thoughtfully with an examiner is acceptable if you support your position.

Stay Calm on the Day

Treat the viva as a scholarly discussion. Take a moment before answering, ask for clarification if needed, and remember you are the expert on your own research.

Key Takeaways

Know your aim, contribution and findings cold
Anticipate questions on topic, method and limitations
Practise answering out loud, ideally in a mock viva
Be ready to justify and defend your choices
Stay calm and treat it as a discussion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a viva?

An oral examination in which you discuss and defend your dissertation or thesis with examiners.

What questions are asked in a viva?

Common ones cover your topic choice, contribution, methodology, limitations and what you would do differently.

How do I calm my nerves before a viva?

Prepare thoroughly, practise out loud, and remember you know your research better than anyone in the room.

Can I disagree with an examiner?

Yes, if you do so respectfully and can justify your position with evidence.

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