Oral Exam Guidelines

On exam days, a copy of the exam schedule will be posted on the Philosophy bulletin board at Dela Costa Hall 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 side of Dela Costa Hall under the newly constructed eaves.

You don't need to bring anything to the exam. Index cards, outlines, and the like are prohibited anyway. A list containing the keywords 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). This is to ensure that we will have no delays and the last person to take the exam for the day will be able to take it on schedule. If you are next in line, be ready to immediately approach the bench.

The teacher will use a tablet to track your time. The screen will be visible to you so you can pace yourself according to the time you have.

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 keyword you will tackle.
If you get a King, Queen or Knave/Jack, you get to pick your keyword.
If you get the Joker, the teacher picks your keyword.

Admittedly, ten minutes will not be enough to exhaust one keyword but you may connect it to other keywords as long as the focus is still on the original one you picked. (Don't use it as a ruse to divert the focus to another keyword.)

If the teacher asks a question, it is to clarify what you have already said or to bring attention to an aspect of the topic that you may have neglected.

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 time.
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.