But these skills are also very useful during oral exams. If you don't know the answer to a question, start talking about what you know in the general vicinity

But these skills are also very useful during oral exams. If you don't know the answer to a question, start talking about what you know in the general vicinity of it and see what happens. You might get a hint for a direction, or the person giving the test might drop the question entirely because you brought up something more interesting (so careful there!), or they might decide that, while you cannot answer that particular question you're still sufficiently knowledgeable. As long as you keep talking good things will happen compared to silence. A bad answer is a lot better than no answer, always. Also good is asking suitable questions back. If you're lucky you can derail the professor from giving a test to having an inspiring conversation about the subject, without grade loss. So, this is a skill that is (indirectly) taught and practiced in academia. Thus I don't get the point of academia people having problems with this.