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A viva is an oral exam that most science students will do in either their 3rd or 4th year. It involves the examiner asking questions, generally after you have presented a research project. It is currently compulsory to wear full sub fusc including the appropriate (scholars/ commoners) gown.
Considering the efforts that Oxford makes to ensure that written exams are unbiased (e.g. candidate numbers), it seems ridiculous that during a viva the examiner has a full view of your academic history - and you're wearing it!
We believe that students are disadvantaged in two ways by this unconscious bias:
1) People who wear scholar's gowns may be given the benefit of the doubt for mistakes and generally considered better, which would disadvantage people in commoner's gowns.
2) People in scholar's gowns may have more expected from them and consequently be asked harder questions.
We believe it should be compulsory for everyone to wear commoner's gowns. If you agree with us, please sign our petition and share it with other students.
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