For those of us with ADHD, an oral examination could be much worse. For many, following oral instructions, or really anyone talking to you, can present real challenges no matter how important the information is or how much we tell ourselves to focus. Simple lecture instruction is the worst learning structure for us. We're that kid getting up and leaving the classroom 3 times during a single lecture to "go to bathroom" (or whatever other pretend reason). Yeah, I know by now that no one is really buying that my bladder is THAT small, but I'm so used to trying to provide a rational reason for something that isn't making any sense: that unbearable and unexplainable urge to get up and move about. A CS exam would be much better because you're active and engaged physically as well as mentally. Sitting through an oral exam, on the other hand, could highlight the biggest weaknesses of our condition. How many times can you ask your examiner to repeat what they said before that starts to lower your score? Just a thought regarding the evolution of exam formats with regard to those with certain disabilities.
