Prepare for an Oral Exam or Viva

Oral exams require different preparation from written ones: the ability to structure a clear answer under pressure, recognition of the examiner's signals, and the specific question types that always appear. This covers the five question types, how to answer clearly when you are under pressure, what the examiner looks like when they think you are guessing, and what to practise the day before.

I have an oral exam or viva in {SUBJECT_OR_TOPIC} on {DATE}. Help me prepare. Give me: the five types of question most commonly asked in this format, how to structure a clear verbal answer under pressure, the sign that an examiner thinks you do not understand something (and what to do), and one thing to practise in the 24 hours before. If this is a PhD viva, flag the specific difference in how to approach it versus a standard oral exam.