So to sum up,

Improve public speaking skills by:
1) Join speakers' club (Toastmaster)
2) Present talks at seminars, conferences, symposiums
3) Join Journal Club

Before actual viva:
1) Mock viva with supervisors
2) Practice in front of graduates and PhD colleagues

Any more advice?

@awsoci Yes you are right. I underestimated what viva is all about. I only prepared myself for the presentation part (10 minutes) and did not prepare for the defending part (Q&A with panels). That's why I was a bit shocked with their provoking questions. They said my presentation was fluent but not Q&A. So now I know what I have to tackle, my defending skills.

I've never presented at any conferences, not even the local ones, just at small classes. I was asked to teach undergraduates twice, but that's about it.

Thank you for bringing up Toastmasters Club. I came across their name not long time ago. I just contacted them so I can join their classes.

Thank you @awsoci

@CR1980 I actually had a mock viva a day before with my supervisors. I should have done it much earlier, so I could improve myself.

Thank you for your advice. Practice practice practice. I will definitely ask help from my colleagues.

Dear fellow graduates,

I failed my first year PhD viva.

Here is my story.

Started PhD with a clinical science research. After 8 months, supervisor left with no one to supervise me.

Ended up changing to a new research, completely different from my educational background. The only research available that I thought I could do.

Few weeks ago, I had my first year viva. Basically what happened is, I completely froze. I just mumbled. I know I could pass it, but somehow, I blanked out. Interview/viva is always something I avoid, definitely not my forte. I'm good in writing but not expressing verbally, as you can say, I'm an introvert. Plus it's my first time of having viva-type exam, and I think my naivety that the panels would be lenient and thinking everything they said is just comments and suggestions and thinking there was no need for me to 'fight'.

So as a result, them thinking that I'm clueless and I don't know what I'm doing, I failed my viva. They gave me 2 choices:
1) Continue as Mphil
2) Re-assessment in 6 months after some tasks done:
- pass 3 modules with A or A+ (which my supervisors think it was absurd)
- review
- refine research design

I'm going for the second option. It's either Ph.D. or none at all.

I want to be fully prepared for my viva. The part I am lacking of. So to other introverts out there, or anyone for that matter, any words of advice?

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