5 Strategies That Helped Me Ace My PhD Defence

This month, I have received several consultation requests from PhD candidates preparing for their final oral examinations. Here are five things I did to pass my own thesis defence “as is” (without corrections). 

1. I reread my entire thesis 

This may seem obvious, but it had been several months since writing my final thesis draft, so I reread and took notes on each chapter of my thesis the week before my defence. I then reread my notes the day before. This made me feel prepared to discuss the details and nuances of my study. 

2. I prepared possible answers 

For each thesis chapter, I brainstormed possible questions my committee members might ask and planned out potential answers. I also prepared how I might pivot if I was asked a question I did not have a direct answer for. This made me feel more confident going into the exam. 

3. I gave a mock defence 

I presented a preliminary version of my defence and invited students and professors in my network to attend. Over 50 people joined my hybrid talk and asked questions about my research. Some of these questions were harder than the ones asked during my defence! This helped me refine my prepared answers. 

4. I recorded and watched my defence presentation 

After my mock defence, I improved my slides and recorded and watched several takes of my presentation. This allowed me to address content gaps, improve transitions, and speak at a comfortable pace within the 20-minute time limit. 

5. I asked for feedback 

A couple classmates and family members gave me helpful feedback on my final recorded presentation. One classmate (who was familiar with my research) gave me feedback that helped me more clearly articulate my theoretical framework, and a family member (who was not familiar with my research) helped me better communicate the broader relevance of my study. 

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