Utilising one-on-one interactive oral assessments as the major final assessment within a bioscience course
Date
2025
Authors
Davey, S.K.
Birbeck, D.
Nallaya, S.
Sallows, G.
Della Vedova, C.B.
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Journal article
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Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, online, 2025; 50(7):1154-1171
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Abstract
Traditional written examinations in higher education face challenges of authenticity and integrity. This study evaluated interactive oral assessments (IOA) as an alternative to traditional written examinations in bioscience education. Using a mixed-methods approach, data from 722 students across multiple offerings of the course (2009–2023) were analysed, comparing cohorts before and after the IOA implementation. Quantitative analysis revealed significant improvements in both final assessment performance and overall course grades following IOA introduction, with no significant differences in performance across gender, international status, or language background. Thematic analysis of focus groups and surveys identified four key themes: assessment authenticity, academic integrity benefits, student anxiety evolution, and inclusive assessment practices. While students initially reported anxiety about the oral format, their perceptions became increasingly positive with experience, and this anxiety did not negatively impact performance. The IOA format demonstrated resilience to academic misconduct, including inappropriate use of Generative AI tools. Our findings suggest that with appropriate scaffolding and implementation strategies, an IOA can serve as an effective, equitable assessment approach that enhances authentic student learning while maintaining academic integrity in undergraduate science education.
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Copyright 2025 The Authors. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Access Condition Notes: This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.