Technical discussion and presentation in the IHK exam

In short: In the final exam part 2 you present your project and then answer the examination board’s questions in the technical discussion.

In more detail: For IT specialists AP2 includes the project work with documentation, presentation (about 15 minutes) and technical discussion (about 15 minutes; details may differ by profession and chamber). The examiners know your documentation and want to see whether you understand your project yourself. Exact requirements are in your examination regulations or at your IHK.

In Depth

The presentation

Structure: starting point and goal, planning (time, costs, decisions), implementation (core, not every detail), result and test, conclusion (target vs. actual, lessons, outlook). Little text on slides, one thought per slide, own diagrams and screenshots. Practise the time and rehearse with a stopwatch. Media: bring projector, laptop and backup (USB stick, PDF export).

The technical discussion

The board asks about the project, decisions, technology and justifications: “Why this technology?”, “What alternatives were there?”, “How do you test?”, “What would you do differently?”, “How secure is the solution?”. Questions on basics (network, privacy, profitability) are also possible. Important: answer honestly, when unsure explain your line of thought, ask back when the question is unclear.

Preparation

• Read the documentation several times and collect possible questions.
• Be able to justify every decision (costs, time, security).
• Practice interview with trainer or colleagues.
• Be able to explain technical terms, even simple ones.
• Have tried out the technology in your own project.
• Have figures (time, costs, amortisation) ready.

On exam day

Be on time, breathe calmly, speak clearly, keep eye contact. Nervousness is normal and expected. When making mistakes carry on calmly. Clothing appropriate and comfortable. After the exam you usually receive the result in writing soon.

See also: Presentation and technical discussion (short overview), Final exam part 2, IHK project documentation, Exam anxiety, Cost-effectiveness assessment