"I made a to-do list a month before my viva, and I completed everything on it. "One was to give my whole thesis three readings. I also promised myself that I would tab the most crucial sections of my thesis, as well as any relevant figures or tables. If you follow the 10-day, two-part schedule below, you will be well-prepared for the viva, with a thorough understanding of your thesis and your examiner's previous work.

 Part 1 entails researching the previous projects of your examiners, relevant literature, and your supervisor's previous projects.
How to Ace Your PhD Viva: Essential Preparation Steps

 • Doing Your Homework and Becoming Familiar with Your Topic 

• Crafting a Comprehensive Presentation or Summary of Your Thesis

 • Conducting Mock Vivas with Colleagues and Advisors

 • Thinking Through Possible Questions and Formulating Answers 

• Managing Anxiety and Developing Confidence for the Big Day

 

Thesis reading tip No. 1

It's usually a good idea to go over your thesis a week or two before the viva, no matter how many times you've done it previously. Although I have checked my thesis numerous times before submitting it, this time I focused on the strength of my argument rather than on catching errors like misspelled words or omitted references. Where can I get a list of the chapter-specific research questions? Which major conclusions may be drawn? And how, above all, may this work be enhanced?
I took the time to underline key passages and jot down notes to ensure that I was fully immersed in the thesis's arguments. In addition, I drafted a brief paper in which I provided a synopsis of each of my eight chapters (plus the introduction and conclusion) using the following rubric:
Important Points and Results Methodology and Scholarly Work Key Arguments and Results Strengths Weaknesses
Putting my work in those very broad terms helped me figure out how to describe it to others who weren't already well-versed in the nuances of my field. In addition, it gave me an opportunity to consider the limitations of my study, which helped me immensely during the viva. This may seem like a time-consuming procedure, but rest assured it was not. It took me at least a week to read the thesis and take notes, and that's without including all the other things that kept me busy (which leads me to my next argument).

Second, don't go into extremes trying to be ready. 
 

When should one start studying for the viva? Given the significance of the test, you could assume that the longer the test is, the better. Not quite... After all, everyone I asked (see number 4) said they wished they hadn't spent so much time getting ready. While I have heard tales of PhD candidates committing a month or more to prepare for their vivas, I opted to be practical and spend no more than two weeks studying. For the next two weeks, nothing except the viva will be on my mind. My manager laughed at my scheme when I told him about it. And I'm pleased he asked, since I hadn't thought about how long it takes me to read a book. It's only that as a PhD student, you've already spent a minimum of three years studying your field. You have reached the pinnacle of your profession, and it is safe to believe that you do not need many hours of extra study. You've got the groundwork done. Have faith in your own abilities.
 

Third, consider possible inquiries.
 

Planning for the possible viva questions and how you could respond to them is a great method to increase the likelihood that you will do well in the viva. Regardless of the specifics of your thesis's subject, you may find lots of websites that give you with example discussion topics that are likely to be addressed by your examiners. These two items served as jumping-off points for me. You'll feel more prepared and certain if you give some thought to the questions in advance. Don't freak out if the question the examiner asks surprises you a little. If the question is more involved, it is OK to pause for reflection and maybe even jot down some bullet points.
 

Among the first set of questions I was asked during my viva were:
 

I am curious as to your rationale for selecting these stellar specimens for study. Why did you suddenly care for them?
Second, tell me about the research methodology you used.
 

What are the key distinctions between studying fanzines in print and doing so digitally?
 

Most of the inquiries, however, were targeted at certain sections of my thesis. Thanks to the worksheet I made as part of my preparation (see point 1), I was able to foresee potential criticism and answer such questions with confidence.
It is not required that you write down your answers: A buddy of mine told me that they used to go on long walks and think about what they were going to say and how they were going to respond.
 

Confer with Viva-Passers

Those who have already passed their viva tend to agree on a few things: don't freak out, everything will be alright, the experience isn't as terrifying as you're making it out to be, etc. In and of itself, this is really comforting. But you could also get useful perspective by hearing the stories of your friends and coworkers. Questions about the important decisions I made when putting together my thesis were the ones I feared the most, such as, "Why did you choose this star/fan magazine instead of another one?" How can I justify a decision that was in part a matter of analysis and in part a matter of taste? What I learned from such discussions is that the simplest, most truthful replies ('these particular fan publications are freely accessible in the digital version and are searchable'/'Pola Negri has somewhat of a cult status in Poland, where I originate from') are typically the most effective.
 

Set up a simulated viva
 

A cliche, yes, but self-assurance is crucial. If you can't communicate yourself effectively or if you mumble, no amount of study will help you convince anybody of anything. Always, always, before giving a lecture or presenting a paper, I go through a few practice runs in front of a ready audience. Because I have to speak in front of both my lover and an academic audience of 30, I now have a better idea of how I will react under pressure.
 

Therefore, I believe that simulating a viva is an essential component of being ready for the real thing. Even if it doesn't boost your self-assurance for the real thing, it might help you learn from your mistakes and improve for the next time. For instance, after doing a mock viva with a fellow PhD student and my supervisor acting as examiners, I realized I needed to begin explaining my process using more specific language. While I have discussed the role of post-colonialism, critical race studies, and feminism in shaping my approach, I have neglected to include the far larger and perhaps more essential fields of gender and cinema studies. Second, I feel more certain in my abilities now thanks to the comments I got. My pretend examiners did not notice that my heart was pounding, my hands were trembling, or that I was really nervous. The practice test ended up being more nerve-wracking than the actual exam.
You might even practice for a "viva" with friends or videotape yourself giving answers on your phone. While the idea of seeing oneself perform may seem terrible, it may help you realize that you come across far better than you give yourself credit for. Research has shown this to be true.