How To Start Preparing For Psychology Entrances

Beginner-Friendly Roadmap for Clinical, UGC NET JRF, CUET PG, and Other Psychology Entrance Exams

You’re Not Alone: It’s Okay to Feel Lost

If you’ve recently graduated or are a psychology student preparing for, or appearing in, your first Entrance Exam, then it’s alright to feel overwhelmed. You’re not alone in feeling like this. Many students experience and go through the same uncertainty.

With various entrance exams, syllabus confusion, and career pressure building up, it’s easy to feel like you’re not giving your best or slipping behind. But the truth is, you’re doing the best you can, and you can still begin from where you are. This article will help you find the direction and clarity to start your preparation with confidence.

Know your Goal, Understand the Landscape

Before you start your preparation for the psychology entrance exams, you need to have a clear understanding of what you’re aiming for. Psychology offers numerous paths to choose from, including counseling, Clinical work, Teaching, and many more. For Example, if you’re going for:

• Clinical Psychologist (RCI-licensed), then your target exams should be CUET PG MA/MSc Psychology, followed by MPhil/Professional Diploma
• Counselor/School Psychologist, then your target exams should be CUET PG MA/MSc Psychology, Counseling Psychology
• Researcher/Professor, then your target exams should be UGC NET/JRF, followed by PhD
• Neuropsychologist, Forensic Expert, etc., then your target exams should be Specialized MA/MSc + Further Training
• Pursuing a PhD in India, then your target exams should be University-level PhD entrance (the NET & SET exams) + interviews. If pursuing a PhD from abroad, then your target exam should be the GRE + interviews.
• If you’re planning to pursue psychology from IITs, then your target exam should be GATE.

Do also check for the eligibility criteria because for some exams, you’d need to have a psychology degree at the undergraduate level. Also, you can refer to the following a

Step-by-Step Preparation Roadmap

Understand the Syllabus

Most of the psychology exams include and cover recurring fundamental topics, irrespective of the specific exam. They include:

• Biopsychology: Brain, neurotransmitters, hormones, nervous system, etc.
• Research Methodology & Statistics: Hypotheses, designs, correlation vs. causation, parametric vs. non-parametric tests
• Cognitive Psychology: Attention, perception, memory, language, problem-solving
• Social Psychology: Attitudes, group dynamics, prejudice, conformity
• Developmental Psychology: Piaget, Erikson, and moral development
• Abnormal Psychology: DSM disorders, symptom clusters, treatment approaches
• Personality Theories: Freud, Jung, trait theories, humanistic approach

After this, familiarize yourself with the specific syllabus of your target exam and highlight the topics that overlap. You can also refer to the following page to get a detailed look at the syllabus of some of the exams:

1. NET JRF: All About UGC NET JRF Psychology Preparations
2. CUET PG: CUET Psychology Syllabus
3. GRE (Graduate Record Examination): All About GRE Psychology – Syllabus | Benefits | Eligibility
4. Clinical Psychology: M.Phil Clinical Psychology Entrance Syllabus

Find out Reliable Study Materials for the Preparation

After understanding the syllabus, you now know what to study and what to avoid. The next step is to find the study material/content for yourself, from which you’ll learn about the subject. Use the notes that you made during your graduation period. Those are the best and most reliable materials you can prepare from. Regularly talk to your mentors about your doubts, and try to find solutions for them. Also, don’t try to read every book or material you find about the subject/topic. Keep your selection concise; you don’t need a library to start with, you just need clarity and consistency.

Some of the following resources you can use to support your preparation:

• Practice Resources:
  • Psychology Question Bank by Dr. Arvind Otta
  • Past Year Questions (PYQs)
• Online Resources:
  • UPS Education YouTube Channel (concept videos, strategy, and live sessions)
  • NTA website for the NET syllabus and sample questions

Regularly Test Yourself

After getting the syllabus, roadmap, and study materials, many students delay the testing and revision process, thinking they can do it later. But these tests (MCQs) are more than that; they’re learning tools that help you retain and apply the knowledge you gain from the long hours of studying.

Here are a few reasons why you should regularly test your knowledge about the subject matter:

• With regular testing, you can understand and correct your weak areas
• You understand how the questions are framed
• You gain valuable time-management skills

Start with chapter-wise MCQs after completing the chapters. Don’t let it bother you if you score low, because that’s how you learn. After getting comfortable, move on to:

• Mixed Topic MCQ Tests
• Timed Mock Tests
• Previous Year Question Papers

ALSO READ: Psychology Entrance Test Papers

Should You Consider Joining a Coaching Program

While coaching programs aren’t a must for success but the right guidance can make a big difference when preparing for competitive entrance exam(s) like UGC NET/JRF or MA Clinical Psychology (previously MPhil CP). Many students turn to coaching programs to bring structure, clarity, and momentum into their preparation journey.

The following are the reasons why you might want to consider joining one:

• If you feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, a coaching program can offer direction, mentorship, and a sense of community.
• With expert faculty and structured lectures, you save time figuring things out alone and focus more on actual learning.
• Regular test series, feedback, and doubt sessions can boost both your confidence and performance.
• Institutions like UPS Education, with years of experience in psychology coaching, have helped thousands of students build strong foundations and achieve their goals, especially in national-level entrance exam(s).

So whether you’re just beginning or feeling stuck midway, a good coaching program can give your preparation the push it needs.

ALSO READ: Why Offline Coaching is Best for Psychology Entrance Exam Preparation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Nobody expects you to be perfect from day one, but here are common mistakes to look out for and avoid:

1. Waiting until the syllabus is “complete” to solve MCQs
   • Start solving questions as early as possible, even alongside learning.
2. Switching books constantly, “trying to get more”
   • Stick to 1–2 sources at max, and revise deeply, only then move to the other books. Use the notes provided by your mentors, and thoroughly revise them.
3. Not asking doubts regularly
   • Ask your peers, join a doubt forum, or coaching programs. Regularly talk to your mentors about the topics you don’t understand and clear them up.
4. Studying hard, but not smart
   • Revise, test, and track often; don’t just passively read, listen to your mentors, and follow their guidelines.

Conclusion

Whether your entrance exam preparation begins today or a month from now, start with what you have. Your first steps don’t have to be perfect; Open your first chapter. Attempt your first MCQ. Every hour of effort put in, no matter how slow or chaotic, brings you closer to your goals.

You don’t need to be confident to begin. You become confident by beginning.