Psychology Oral Exam Prep: How Do I Get Started?

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Evelyn Jagpat Psy.D.

Now that the sun has radiantly possessed the Texas sky once more and Spring is officially on, you may suddenly feel a burst of fresh new energy and enthusiasm. What better time to use this momentum to set a plan into action to proactively start studying for your Texas Psychology Oral Exam. Being proactive means just that. It means actively taking charge and taking the challenge on. But just how does one get started doing this? Many often ask me, “Just how do I get started studying for my Orals? What is the best approach?”

Now for the disclaimer….

There is no one plan fits all study program or study plan. This is where you have to know yourself (strengths and weaknesses), know what may likely work best for you, be willing to experiment with different options and simply do an assessment of your needs. What I certainly do not suggest is that you just plunge into the books as it were and start a comprehensive study of all the text books and EPPP materials related to the Psychology Oral Exam content areas. This is simply a flat out waste of your time and energy. Further, it is exhausting, not very inspiring and will likely yield relatively poor returns when weighed against the effort you put in. You will also most likely find that studying becomes something that you dislike greatly and which makes you feel lost and unable to cover much meaningful ground. This may also contribute to anxiety and a sense of disillusionment.

What do I suggest?

1. First thing’s first. Do an objective initial assessment to see where you are or just how prepared you are for the Psychology Oral Exam. Be sure to assess your performance in all the relevant content areas. This initial assessment will help you to determine which critical areas need special attention and focus. You will also know where to concentrate and focus your study time. As part of this assessment, also try to evaluate your oral response style and presentation.

2. Next, determine what resources will best fit your study needs and improve your performance.

3. Try to focus on weaker content areas or areas of poorer performance first.

4. Determine how to best practice oral responding. The last thing you want to do is not to practice responding out loud while developing your own natural yet concise response style, which will showcase your skills and expertise, while answering questions completely and accurately.

5. Be realistic about how much time you really need to study each week and commit to investing the time needed.

6. Try to get as much applied practice as possible, for example, in supervision or using a study program with vignettes to practice with. Work with a partner or a coach.

7. Do a post assessment prior to taking the actual Psychology Oral Exam to determine where you may need to concentrate and focus your remaining study time.

8. Develop a balanced approach to living and take good care of yourself throughout the process.

9. Remember, consistent positive actions most often yield positive results.

10. Endeavor to craft the future you dream….