Friday, 11 June 2010

Viva Exam

i never liked viva

vivas are different from other exams

you cannot skip the question you are not sure or dunno and come back later to try again
you cannot spit out 200 nonsense words and let the examiner pick out the relevant parts
you cannot cross out previous answers and reattempt them


in a viva

every word you say counts
every word you say determines what sort of question you might get next
every word you say can lead to only two outcomes
impress or disappoint



5 years of dental school have made me realised that
i can read a hundred pages about caries
and still fail to convey what i know in one short, condensed sentence to the examiner during a viva


My seen case was a catastrophe
thanks mom and dad for giving me a strong heart
otherwise, i'd have got MI and passed out right in front of the examiners and patient



My unseen case wasn't as bad, but almost on a slippery slope

i could see the examiners endeavouring to throw me a life-saving rope but my sweaty wobbly hands slid through it effortlessly

'Pulpotomy or pulpectomy?' Dr. J asked

'Pulpotomy' i answered without hesitation

He squinted at me.

The other examiner, Prof H chipped in, ' It's a permanent tooth.'

'Uhmm...sorry, i mean pulpectomy..oh hold on, let me see the xray again' i started to panic

They both peered at me, as if asking ARE YOU SURE?

Oh shit!Pulpotomy or pulpectomy?pulpotomy! No no no..pulpectomy! errr..maybe not...arghh Yin Hui, make up your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had two little voices constantly debating in my head throughout the viva, confusing myself and both of the examiners

15 min just slipped away faster than i realised

the next thing i knew, i was already out of the suffocating room and resenting being the biggest dolt in front of two senior examiners

Seriously

A second chance at getting it right??

NO, THANKS!!!

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