......clandestine fable....

I finished one exam on 17/6 and passed it.  It was not a good grade but the important thing is I passed :p 

"The hardest struggle of all is to be something different from what the average man is" (Charles M. Schwab). In some cases, I could sense there are some good things to be different or rather to be 'unique'.   I am not sure whether it is doing something with to be different or otherwise but in Switzerland and Italy, oral exams are also used for non-language subjects. The first time I heard, I had a funny feeling, thinking this is a little bit 'weird'.  It is not saying I do not concern or give a heck about my studies but I know I am not good  in oral exam. It has been always just not my best time when it comes to oral exam.    I would be having a wrecked on my nerves with all emotions melted into one; shivering, collapsing, blackout, vomitting huhuhu... I tried to be calm and relax but I couldn't afford the waiting period. It this circumstances, it is true that waiting is indeed torturing. It would just kill me badly.   The pressures are greater on oral exams compared to written exams. It is similar to attending a job interview but I guess on exam, the degree of desperation to pass it is more than hoping to be employed.  It has a great level of compulsion.  At this time the only thing in mind is to fake as if you really 'love' the examiner although the fact is that you never have liked him at all :p 

As always, for me there is a dire need to pass the exam once and for all, no matter what otherwise I will be dead! Based on my personal experience, unlike attending any job interviews, although the needs to get the job is critical and pivotal but there is always another opportunity - it is like, if I fail this one now, I can do further job hunting and go for another interview. Failing a job interview would still provoke some frustrations inside but it is not similar with the frustration of failing an examination. An exam is like a chain which affects not only your overall grade but it could also pull down the whole structure to the grain! The onus would be, if you don't pass one single exam, in the end you will not get the paper - a certificate. It is such a waste of time, seeing all previous effort and hard works go in vain!  

I have always had a qualm and skepticism about an oral exam especially when it does not concern about testing your competence level in language.    As far as I remember, the only oral exam I've got back home was when it has to do with testing the proficiency level of language. This was during my SPM and recently my IELTS two years ago.  Adversely, it's not the case in this university. Oral exams can be done in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics and what not.  It is good to test the level of understanding on the subject matter but I am not sure if it is appropriate to have an oral exam in Statistics though. Well that might be better, but tell me what is it to do on explaining the contents of a book or the PPT slides being taught in class! I don't see it ever matched the purpose of evaluating your understanding. Some students could have just learned them by heart (including me :p) for the sake of passing the exam. 

Most of my friends who used to have oral exam found it good on the ground that you could argue/defend your answers or statements and you could also express your opinions and ideas.   I think, written exam too would allow you to do the same.  The good thing about oral exam is that student won't be able to cheat by bringing a 'toyol' with them as some of my friends used to do. The possibility to cheat during oral exam is definitely slim. 

In some circumstances, the virtue about oral exam is each student will get different question. Some students might get easy questions and vice versa. Some students might be shot with loads of questions and some might be not. In written examination, students would get equal number of questions and the same type of questions. In oral exam, the mood of the examiner would contribute some factors too, whether he is in good mood  in the morning, afternoon or evening or otherwise. I bet there is a tendency of a bias factor such as favoritism.  Throughout my experience, some professors would deem you do well if you could answer it as fast as lightning! Ridiculous! There is no room for thinking. In written exam, you have the opportunity to think and scribble some draft answers etc. If you cannot answer the first question, you have the choice to jump to another questions that fancy you most.  Oral exam would not allow you to do that. Once you cannot answer the first question, a guarantee of failing that subject is already on hand. 

Anyway, we had this Research Methods examination. The questions evolved around the students' thesis (the methods, approach etc).   I am not complaining because I got a lower grade for this but I have some doubts on a few things.  Firstly, some students have conducted their research and even one of us is finishing.  So the methodology used was definitely correct otherwise she would not be able to continue.  Secondly, the examiner himself is also supervising 3 students. So, what questions were asked to the 3 students during the exam? I am sure he didn't ask about the methodology since he was the one who guided them through. It is impossible for him to contradict himself. One of the 3 told us she was not asked about her thesis but on something else. It could be FAIR and NOT FAIR. FAIR in the sense the examiner didn't ask that question on the notion that he knew the answers well and the idea of provoking may not be useful.  NOT FAIR because since he knew it already, therefore questions regarding methodology and related were skipped.  It therefore saved them. What questions asked, nobody knows. Third, some of us do not even have supervisors or topics for the thesis. So I believe you will never get it right when replying about methodology and approach especially when you do not have any idea what to research.  Fourth, it was like condemning the other professors who are supervising other students, as if the methodology/approach given were not good enough.  One of my friends were asked 'who is this Professor X to say so?'  Every time, on oral exam, there were a lot of provoking rather than helping! I am used to not getting good grades but some friends especially Salma and Giulia were totally upset. Salma is an excellent student, who could still get a 10 even without doing some revisions.

Anyway I have two good news though huhuhu ...my previous working experience was granted 6 ECTS.  Another good news, I received my parcels (two books published by Ministry of Tourism Msia), with the assistance of my beloved friend, Barbara! Thanks Barb, I owed you a great gratitude!  

Well could it be me that living in denial and be dissented or is the system indeed horrendous? So ok...complete the thesis faster and get out of here!