Psychology Oral Exam Study Tips #2

Psychology Oral Exam Study Tip Moment #2

By Dr. Evelyn Jagpat (Dr. Eve)

How should I respond if I do not know the answer to a question during my Psychology Oral Exam?

The most common fear among Psychology Oral Exam candidates is the dread that they will be asked a question which they do not know the answer to. This fear is heightened by the fact that an incorrect or deficient response may result in an automatic failure. My best advice is to release the fear . Remember, it is mostly fueled by anxiety. So how do you approach such a situation? Here are some suggestions:

Remain calm and maintain professionalism. This is not the end of the world. In a real life clinical scenario you will often not have a clear cut answer. Accept this as your new norm. Once you have embraced this you are now freed from anxiety and can apply good clinical judgment, critical thinking and creativity. In essence you can think more clearly.

Ask for clarification. Make sure that you understand what is being asked. Many candidates forget that this is not the EPPP and interaction and exchange are critical components of the oral exam. Asking for clarification demonstrates clinical maturity and poise on your part. It also demonstrates that you are a clinician who does not rush to judgment and who seeks clarity and to understand important details before reacting or offering an opinion. Further, it allows a moment of pause for you to gather your thoughts and to take a soothing breath.

Vital information may be missing. One common reason that you don’t have a concrete answer may be that critical details of the case are simply missing. This is where your practice with analyzing cases and oral responding will come into play. If information is missing, discuss this. Verbalize your thinking and problem solving process out loud. The examiners want to know how you think about a case, the factors you are considering, what evidence supports your conclusions, etc. Verbalize your entire thinking process.

Let them know if you need more details and how you will go about getting this information. If you are torn between two opinions, discuss this out loud and verbalize what other information you need to make a final determination. Again, discuss how you will gather this information, what resources you may utilize or who you may consult. Your willingness to consult on a case also demonstrates your clinical maturity and shows that you know your own limitations as a clinician and are willing to continue to learn and grow professionally. It also shows that you endeavor to do no harm to your client.

Acknowledge that you are unclear or don’t know. However, it is vital that you discuss how you will approach resolving this dilemma. For example, perhaps you may opt to consult another clinician. Are there other resources you may consult or do you need to do a thorough assessment?

Reframe the exam as a case consultation. View the exam as an open exchange where you are being asked to offer clinical advice to a colleague. Remember your love for what you do. We all enjoy discussing clinical cases and thinking about different treatment approaches. Have fun with it!