Oral Exam Primer (a.k.a. answers to exam FAQs)

FOR EVERYBODY:
On exam days, a copy of the exam schedule will be posted on the Philosophy bulletin board at Dela Costa outside the lobby and along the 2/f corridor for your reference.
The exam will take place at the stone bench near the pathways crossing at the quad in front of Dela Costa Hall. If it rains, we move to the Rizal Library Lobby or Leong Hall.
You don't need to bring anything to the exam. Index cards, outlines, and the like are prohibited anyway. A copy of the thesis statements will be provided.
Your time begins exactly when the person before you rises from the bench (NOT after you sit; NOT after you pick a card). If you are next in line, be ready to immediately approach the bench.
You may bring a timer. If you do, the screen of the device must be seen by both you and the teacher at all times.
If you don't bring a timer, you are free to ask the teacher at any point during your exam about the time you have left.
A deck of cards is shuffled then ten cards are taken from the deck and placed face down in front of you.
The number you picked will be the number of the thesis statement you will tackle.
If you get a King, Queen or Knave/Jack, you get to pick your thesis statement.
If you get the Joker, I get to pick your thesis statement.
The time is not enough for one thesis statement but you may connect it to other statements as long as the focus is still on the original one you picked. (Don't use it as a ruse to divert to another thesis statement.)
If the teacher asks a question, it is to clarify what you have already said or to bring attention to a part of the thesis statement that you may have skipped over.
Sometimes difficult questions are asked to measure whether or not you really deserve a high mark.
Please be in the vicinity of the venue and be ready to take the exam 10-15 minutes prior to your exam.
If someone does not make it on time, the student next in line is asked to take the exam. It will just be as if the tardy student switches time slots with the next person in line.
You may switch time slots but be sure you have a clear understanding with one another. Telling the teacher about the switch will be appreciated but not necessary.

FOR STUDENTS WITH OPTIONAL TEXTS (20 minute exams):

Please bring a copy of your text. You may refer to this copy during the latter part of the exam. It is fine even if your copy is highlighted or have marginal notes. Separate outlines written on the back pages of your copy or on separate sheets are prohibited.

While still tackling the thesis statement, you may mention its relation to your chosen text but go back immediately to tackling the thesis statement. You have the latter part of the exam to focus on the relation between the thesis statement and your chosen text.

If your chosen text is not directly related to the thesis statement, do not force the issue. The teacher will probably ask you to explain a passage from your chosen text and will not expect you to connect it to the thesis statement.

You must hurdle the thesis statement before tackling the chosen text. If you have trouble tackling the thesis statement, the teacher may not ask about your chosen text anymore and end your exam after 15 minutes.