Physiology vivavoice exams

 Introduction to physiology viva examinations

Hello everyone, 

This is Med Made Fun. In this blog we are going to see more questions related to viva examinations  based on physiology.

Viva exams carry considerable marks for your physiology exam. Physiology is a very interesting subject in preclinical studies. But we don't know , from where it starts or from where it ends as physiology is has a vast syllabus. 

In this exams you will not get enough time to recollect because it is a short time assessment. You haven't a time to think and compile things. 

How to face physiology viva examinations? 

(Tips & Tricks)

It is must to wear a formal,clean and neat dress and shoes with a decent haircut / hairstyle. If you want you can wear a wrist watch. Make sure your appearance positively  reflects  you to the examiners.  These thing defines your personality to them and create the first impression. Have a good sleep before viva and you will look fresh. Have a good breakfast.

Don't enter the the examination hall or room without the permission  of examiners,  Ask for their permission  or  enter when they say " come in".

After entering,  greet the examiners appropriately with a smile ," Good morning madam!"  , "Good evening sir!" ( usually  there are 2 examiners, a lecturer from your medical faculty/ medical collage and an external examiner not from your faculty / college.  Can be changed). 

Sit comfortably  and straight in the chair given to you. Look forward. Don't show them that you are nervous.  Show that you are confident. Be calm. Be at your best behavior. Be nice and respectful throughout the exam.

Usually  the examiners who come to the viva voice examinations ask questions from very basics of physiology and then continue  to the depths  of it on what you answer. So before you answer the question, you should be ready to the next question on your answer. So best trick to use in these exams is to drag examiners to topics we have well studied. Never lead them into the topics which you have doubts or which you're weak.

You must be very thorough with topics for answering. If you are not able to remember , don't waste the time, just say "I can't remember it at this moment" , because the marks are given according  to the number of questions you answered correctly. So you must save the time for more questions rather than spending more time to memorize or giving wrong/ unsure answers. Because if they are not satisfied  with your answer, the next question most likely will be from that topic. So you may not answer all questions, It's okay. But you should show your knowledge  in "must know things" of topics and should not make wild guesses or blunders. (As external examiners participate,  they make ask some advanced questions specifically  when you are too good in answering.)

Listen to the questions carefully,  take a little pause , decide what to answer and then answer with confidence. This little pause is important,  if you try to be hurry, it will cause stress and panic. If you unable to hear the question clearly at first time, ask politely if they can repeat their question, " sorry"

Answer to the point at first. If they are looking at you without going to the next question,  you should further  explain your answer. Show you know it, show you know it A to Z!!!! ( if they are expecting  it). Use key words in answering not raw words. Be precise.Try to answer in such a way that new questions are directed towards an area that you are familiar. If they give a topic to choose, choose the most familiar  one.

Don't come with experimental answers. Don't try to fool the examiners. If examiners ask "are you sure" or "come again" or shows some sign that you are not correct, again take a little pause and try to correct the answer. Don't argue with them although you are right! 

You should have read books to get your concepts clear( I recommend Guyton & Hall Text book of Medical Physiology and Ganong's Review of medical physiology ). Learn basics perfectly. Give your attention  to both theory and practical  parts. You can get questions from anywhere in the physiology because this is a viva exam. The questions of viva exams are spontaneous !!

After finishing  the viva exam leave the examination  hall  or room with thanking " Thank you madam" , " thank you sir" and a smile.

So now don't be panic thinking of it, 

we have sample viva exams / demonstrations of vivavoice examinations based on all topics of physiology with frequently asked questions with best simple answers. All the answers are explained using diagrams , charts, pictures & tables, while the conversation is going on.

 So join with us " Med Made Fun" youtube channel and practice few times before the viva exam. It will help to boost your confidence.