It was 10:30 PM, and Zara was pacing her room, earbuds still in from a mock viva she'd recorded an hour earlier. Her supervisor had given her minimal feedback, "Good content, work on delivery" and now she was spiraling. Would the examiners ask about methodology? Would they challenge her literature review? Would they even like her?
She wasn't alone. Every year, thousands of students face the same moment of uncertainty: standing at the edge of a conversation they can't fully rehearse, with stakes they can't ignore.
Oral exams vivas are among the most anxiety-inducing elements of academic life. Unlike essays or multiple-choice tests, vivas demand spontaneity, clarity, and presence. They test not just what you know, but how you think on your feet.
But lately, something has shifted. A new wave of AI-powered tools is emerging, promising to make viva prep more structured, less isolating, and, for many, a little less terrifying.
The Unique Stress of Viva Preparation
Let's be honest: vivas are unpredictable by design. Supervisors and examiners often pride themselves on asking the "unexpected" question,n something to test whether you truly understand your work or just memorized the abstract. That's valuable. But for students already under pressure, it can feel like walking into a room blindfolded.
Traditional viva prep often involves reading notes, re-reading chapters, and maybe doing a mock session with a peer or tutor. But these sessions can be inconsistent. Some tutors offer rich, probing questions; others give vague affirmations. And once the session is over, there's rarely a way to revisit or refine your performance.
That's where AI viva tools come in not as replacements for academic rigor, but as scaffolds for confidence and clarity.
Enter the AI Viva Simulator: Practice That Feels Real
Imagine being able to have a conversation about your research anytime you want without scheduling conflicts or fear of judgment. That's what AI viva simulators offer. These tools, powered by natural language processing models, generate examiner-style questions based on your thesis or project outline. They respond in real time, mimicking the back-and-forth of an actual oral exam.
Some platforms even record your responses, allowing you to replay and analyze your delivery your tone, hesitation patterns, and clarity. For students like Zara, who struggle with verbal fluency under pressure, this is invaluable.
Take, for example, AI viva, a platform that allows students to upload their dissertation abstracts and receive a tailored oral exam experience. It doesn't just ask generic questions it digs into methodology, implications, and limitations, just like a real examiner might. Students report feeling more prepared, not because they've memorized answers, but because they've practiced thinking aloud.
And that's key. Vivas aren't about perfection they're about intellectual honesty. AI tools help students get comfortable with the messiness of thought, the pause before a response, and the courage to say, "I'm still thinking through that."
Beyond Repetition: Structured Feedback and Iteration
One of the most powerful features of AI viva tools is the ability to iterate. Unlike a one-time mock exam, these platforms allow students to practice the same topics multiple times, refining their responses and delivery with each go.
This repetition isn't about robotic rehearsal. It's about building fluency. When students know they can revisit a difficult question until it feels manageable, the fear begins to loosen its grip.
Some tools also offer textual feedback highlighting areas where your reasoning was unclear or where you might benefit from deeper explanation. While not as nuanced as human feedback, it's immediate and consistent, filling a gap that many students face during self-prep.
Of course, there are limitations. AI can't fully replicate the interpersonal dynamics of a real viva. It can't raise an eyebrow, lean in with interest, or shift tone to signal approval or skepticism. But it can approximate the structure and challenge of the exam environment, and for many students, that's enough to shift from panic to preparedness.
The Ethical Dimension: Is AI Viva Prep "Cheating"?
As with any new educational technology, questions arise. Is using an AI viva tool giving students an unfair advantage? Are we encouraging over-preparation at the expense of authenticity?
These concerns are worth taking seriously. If a student memorizes AI-generated responses and delivers them robotically, they may miss the point of the viva entirely. The goal isn't to perform it's to engage in scholarly dialogue.
But here's the thing: most students aren't using these tools to game the system. They're using them to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and sharpen their ability to articulate ideas under pressure. In that sense, AI viva tools are less about "cheating" and more about leveling the playing field.
Still, it's important to maintain academic integrity. Just as students must ensure their written work is original, they should approach AI-assisted prep with intentionality not as a shortcut, but as a supplement.
That's where tools like Turnitin come in. Even if you're preparing orally, the ideas and arguments you present should reflect your own understanding. If you're wondering, can you make a turnitin account without class id , the answer is yes students can create personal accounts to self-check drafts and ensure originality before submission or presentation.
Using such systems in tandem with AI viva tools ensures that preparation doesn't become performance at the cost of authenticity.
Real Students, Real Outcomes
Let's return to Zara. After three weeks of using an AI viva simulator, she walked into her actual oral exam with a different posture not tense, but alert. She still felt nervous, sure, but she had practiced enough to trust her ability to respond thoughtfully.
She wasn't surprised by the questions. She wasn't thrown by the silence after her answers. And when the examiner asked her to clarify a point about her data analysis, she paused, took a breath, and explained not recited.
She passed with distinction.
Her story isn't unique. Across universities, students are discovering that AI viva tools don't replace hard work they amplify it. They don't eliminate nerves they help manage them. And they don't simulate the viva so perfectly that students can fake their way through they just make the real thing feel a little less foreign.
The Bigger Picture: Tech as Tutor, Not Teacher
It's tempting to frame AI viva tools as revolutionary. And in some ways, they are. But perhaps the more important shift is in how we view preparation itself.
For too long, viva prep has been shrouded in mystery and anxiety. Students were told to "just be ready" or "know your work inside out," as if confidence could be summoned without practice. AI tools don't eliminate the need for deep understanding they just make it easier to practice expressing that understanding.
They're not here to replace tutors, supervisors, or peer feedback. They're here to fill the gaps especially for students who don't have access to frequent mock exams or who feel uncomfortable practicing in front of others.
That's a meaningful evolution in academic support. It's not about automating learning; it's about making it more accessible.
Final Thoughts: Confidence Without Compromise
There's no substitute for genuine intellectual engagement. No AI can replace the spark of curiosity, the depth of insight, or the personal voice that emerges when you truly own your research.
But tools that help you practice, reflect, and grow? Those are worth embracing.
As AI viva tools continue to evolve, they'll likely become more sophisticated better at reading tone, simulating examiner personalities, and offering personalized feedback. But their true value will always lie in what they help students become, not just what they help them say.
So if you're preparing for a viva, consider giving an AI tool a try. Not to script your success, but to script your confidence.
Because when you walk into that room, you shouldn't just know your work.
You should feel ready to talk about it.