Preparing for a selection process through competitions is much more than just memorizing.

Just as there is a difference between theory and practice in solving a problem, it is important to attend not only to the need to learn the subject matter, but also to the need to be in the best possible condition when studying and facing the exam. For this reason, psychological assistance can be very useful when preparing for competitive examinations . Let’s see how you do it.

Benefits of Psychological Support in Competitive Examinations

How does it benefit us to have the help of a psychologist when preparing for a competition? Here you will find a brief summary on this subject.

1. Help to manage time

Small changes in day-to-day habits can make a difference after several months of study. However, without help, it can be difficult to know the best way to organize your time.

The psychologists offer personalized attention to provide solutions adapted to the needs of each person , depending on their characteristics and the particularities of the context in which they live (amount of free time, family responsibilities, etc.).

In this way, the student can find a constant routine that allows him to make the most of the time he has to study, and the positive effects of this accumulate day by day.

2. Helps manage stress

Stress is probably the most important psychological phenomenon to take into account in the preparation of competitions. It serves to keep us alert about the need to prepare for a challenge that is closer every day, but if it accumulates too much, these peaks of stress and anxiety can hinder our progress (as well as give us a hard time).

In view of this, psychologists have a whole arsenal of tools to prevent the appearance of stress problems . For example, we train people in relaxation exercises and in focusing on the objective, and we also give behavioural guidelines to create anti-stress habits before the discomfort appears.

3. Provides memorization and study routines

Mnemonic tricks and study routines help to make the most of the time spent reading notes and technical texts. Virtually everyone can memorize at an amazing pace if they acquire the right methods.

4. Train in question solving

The psychological intervention also serves to prepare for the specific context of the exam , not only to face the study process. To this end, specific relaxation exercises and routines are proposed to favour the recovery of the memorised contents.

5. Train in the knowledge reconsolidation exercises

Virtually nothing can be learned simply by reading it once. To understand and internalize the information, you have to review , both in the study sessions (by reading the notes or selected readings in the manual or textbook several times) and outside, when you don’t have the study material at hand.

Psychologists help the student make the re-consolidation of knowledge a routine, something central to their learning habits.

What are the phases of the process?

Let’s see how the process of psychological assistance is developed for the preparation of competitive examinations:

Evaluation of potentialities

In this phase, we psychologists study which are the skills and capacities that the student already has, in order to use them to pose one way or another the challenge of preparing to take the exam. On the other hand, in this same phase, the “weaknesses” of the person are outlined, in order to work on the reinforcement of these faculties.

Establishment of objectives

Once a description of the starting situation has been made, it is time to specify and set goals . These goals serve to give a direction to the preparation process, and to see at each moment if it is going well or not, and to make corrections as soon as possible where necessary.

Action plan, monitoring and evaluation

This is the “body” of the preparation of the competitions from the psychological point of view. It is the stage in which student and psychologist work together not only to arrive at the day of the test in the best possible state (intellectually and emotionally), but also to work on previous aspects, such as motivation, prevention of pathological habits of stress management, the ability to have well-used moments of rest, etc.

Through the evaluation, the students will have a feedback about their performance in the preparation of the competitions, always taking into account the objectives initially set.

Conclusion

Oppositions are always a challenge where relaxing too much or wasting time is not an option. However, that does not mean that the life of the opposition student has to be hell, nor does it mean that he has to assume that he cannot control his degree of discomfort or ability to adapt to this challenge. Psychologists provide support so that they can take control of the situation and minimize the chances of not passing the selection process.

Bibliographic references:

  • de Quervain, D.J.; Roozendaal, B.; Nitsch, R.M.; McGaugh, J.L.; Hock C. (2000). “Acute cortisone administration impairs retrieval of long-term declarative memory in humans. Nature Neuroscience. 3 (4): 313 314.
  • Dudai Y (2006). “Reconsolidation: the advantage of being refocused”. Current Opinion in Neurobiology. 16 (2): 174 – 178.
  • Schneiderman, N.; Ironson, G.; Siegel, S. D. (2005). “Stress and health: psychological, behavioral, and biological determinants”. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 1: 607 – 628.