An oral examination is a form of assessment that consists of verbal communication between an examiner and a student. Other terms commonly used to describe this type of examination include viva voce, spoken assessment, and oral test. In some contexts, it may also be called an oral presentation or defense. These synonyms imply slightly different meanings and formats, but all involve testing a student's ability to communicate knowledge and understanding verbally. Oral examinations are common in academic settings, in fields such as foreign language proficiency and public speaking, but can also be required in professional settings such as healthcare and law.