THE ULTIMATE VIVA GUIDE! (1) (1st year)

 A VIVA CRACKCODE GUIDE

AOA juniors!!! I hope you guys are ever enthusiastic still, and not beaten down by this covid-med life  much. Vivas can be daunting and specifically the vivas in mbbs but remember technique, a strategy, and a confident demeanour are the codes to crack down any viva.

So we received your query and decided to form this post it will guide you regarding:

1. Viva pattern/ manner in which it is taken. (POST 1)

2.  And  viva questions. ( POST 2)

 As questions asked in viva can vary from person to person, based on their performance in class as well as previous record, we took multiple submissions from your seniors, so that you guys can get a larger perspective.  So I hope it helps!!

THE VIVA MANNER:

Viva and ospe portion constitutes exactly 50% marks of any subject and I name it as “game changer”. WHY? When it comes to the theory paper, all students have same questions, same checker, same marking criteria but viva/ospe portion has always been a shot for me because it is different for everyone and it wholly depends on you.

“VIVA isn’t just a bookish knowledge thing”

When it comes to viva, there are many factors involved, your body language, behaviour, confidence, way of explaining your knowledge, dress code and yes also your concepts and visual memory.

Behaviour, Body language and confidence:

To be very honest, this is solely the thing on which your viva depends. The teachers in front of whom you are going to explain your point, they already know the answer but they are asking you just to know your concepts n if you get confused or panicked despite you know the answers, its all in vain.

Concepts and visual memory:

Concept is the thing that your professor wants to check, if you just start telling your crammed knowledge in a rhythm, it isn’t going to work. Try to explain your concepts in your own devised words rather.

Example: If your professor asks you about the lateral rotators of hip joint you don’t start telling the muscles’ names but first tell her/him as they are located in the gluteal region, so it clearly shows, they will be taking part in lateral rotation of thigh n then tell the names.

THE STYLE:

A. Orally based

Anatomy

Histology:

Histology constitutes of microscopic slides and a long slide thing.

Microscopic slides will be 18-20 stations each of 2 marks and 1 minute time. slides will be focused exactly the same as the photos provided by seniors or you will be shown in class, so try having a grip over your visual memory, the only way to remember them is by revising them again n again atleast 5 times before viva. It’s fun and super easy to secure marks.

Long slide:

First you have to draw the diagram (make sure to label it correctly) and then a 2-4 mins viva which will be related to the respective diagram only

.

Running Ospe (Gross, general and embryology):

Again it’s the game of visual memory. It includes models, cadaver spotting, embryology diagrams, Bone identification, Radiographs and surface anatomy.

Radiographs are so easy, just like X-rays we see in daily life.

At surface anatomy station there will a demonstrator who will be asking you orally about the courses of nerves and vessels. (Try doing it from selfless medicos videos available on youtube)

Other spotting will be labelled A,B,C,D or pins will be pricked on cadavers to identify. DON’T SKIP ANY QUESTION, BE VIGILANT.

Physiology:

As I talk about my own experience, Physiology’s ospe is kinda tricky. You don’t have to do OSPE questions only but you have to read the entire practical, learn the tables or solution constituents.

There will be observe stations that can include short experiments like blood group check, haematocrit reading etc. There can be auscultatory area station or JVP as well, A BP checking station.

There's an ECG graph and you will have to calculate the asked value like heart rate etc. Learn ECG leads placement.

Also one station with microscope, either you have to focus slide or identify the already focused one WBC.

There will be a viva station where you will be shown apparatus to identify and examiner can ask you to explain any procedure orally.

Biochemistry:

OSPE is relatively easy because mostly it includes only the ospe questions enlisted in the practical copy.

One apparatus station, you will just have to tell the names. One test tube identification station where already performed test will be there, you will just have to identify it, make sure you visualize all those test tube result pictures.

Performance:

You will have to perform the experiment allotted to you. First you will have to write the principle of it on given sheet (make sure you write the equations included in the principle too, only then you can get full marks) n after the performance you will go for table viva n the examiner will ask questions related to the test you performed.

B. Theory Based Viva:

Ok so in case of Biochemistry and Physiology it solely includes your theory exam syllabus, and some conceptual questions from the same theory syllabus while anatomy’s examiner can have models or bones there too.

SOME FAQ's:

How your internal evaluation effects your professional exam’s viva score?

The examiner is having the whole class’s internal exam’s score list and that’s the first thing n the basis of which he/she is going to judge you especially the external examiner for prof exams. Make sure you have a good backup.

In case of physiology, Mostly the HOD asks about pet definitions and long processes like cardiac cycle. Make sure you read sir mazhar’s slides because mostly he likes to listen his own headings and data.

In anatomy, the examiner will ask you about bone or model at first, can ask you to draw brachial plexus, probably she will be asking questions from all the four portions of anatomy one by one, BE CONFIDENT.

Is it true there's a repetition of viva question?

Yes/No. It actually depends on your luck but make sure you are smart enough to analyse on which topics the examiner is focusing.

Viva Protips:

major tip: “SAY SOMETHING”

When you don’t know the exact answer make sure you don’t stay quite, you must start telling something related to it so that examiner have an idea that you have knowledge about it n you read that topic.

Like if I share my personal experience, examiner asked me about the insertion of different fibers of levator ani muscle n I started telling the names of anterior intermediate n posterior fibers instead of their insertion n she moved on to the next question.

Other Tips and rules:

1)Don’t rush in the corridors or to ask questions as soon as a student comes out of viva room because it creates a messed up environment and you create difficulty for everyone, our behaviors effect the people around us.

2) Don’t get confused if you don’t know the answer, being a student of professional studies mean you are never 100% trained so if you get panicked it’s going to effect all the upcoming row of questions.

3)Try to keep a medium pace while answering, very fast seems overconfident while very slow seems as if you aren’t clear with your concepts.

4)Try not to lose any marks from your practical copy thing. It contains 5 marks which you can secure for free if you look at it that way.

 

(note: I WOULD SUGGEST YOU GUYS TO STICK TO THIS AMAZING GUIDE, AS IT HONESTLY CONTAINS EVERY FEATURE YOU NEED TO PASS OR EVEN TOP THE VIVA)

Thanking immensely to our contributor: Maryam ijaz (2^nd year)
Edited by: Aiza Anwar (publishing direc.)