Today I had a presentation, just a spoken presentation with no PowerPoint slides. It was in a small group of 5, with 3 examiners sitting at desks assessing us. When I entered the room, I was surprised to see that there were chairs at the front lined for each of us to sit on. I didn't think much of it, as with there being no slides and no big audience who needed to see us from the back I presumed we were supposed to sit down and speak. I went first, and remained sitting. The person after me also stayed seated, but after them the next person stood up and so everyone else remaining also stood once it was their turn, and then sat back down once their turn was over.
I feel really embarrassed and awkward about it. It just didn't cross my mind to stand up. I've done presentations before but in front of the whole class and with slides to go and point at or gesture towards. There's never been any chairs, even in group presentations you all stand throughout. But with a row of chairs at the front I just presumed were were supposed to stay seated. I'm now worried I'm going to get marked down for it, and feel guilty that I influenced the next person to stay seated too. I honestly just didn't realise or think. I spoke to some of my friends who were in different groups and every single person stood up when speaking, and in some groups the whole group stood for the duration.