University Health Psychology: Personal Reflection on Exam Preparation

This report provides a comprehensive reflection on a student's exam preparation process, grounded in health psychology principles. The student details the development and implementation of a study plan, emphasizing goal setting, time management, and the use of various study tools. The report outlines the student's experiences, including both successes and challenges, such as maintaining motivation and addressing weaknesses. The reflection incorporates the Rolfe reflective model, prompting analysis of the situation, self-interpretation, and the formulation of an action plan for future improvement. Additionally, the report explores different perspectives within health psychology, including research, counseling, applied, and clinical psychology, and discusses the steps required to pursue a career in the field. The student's insights offer valuable lessons on self-evaluation, discipline, and the importance of a holistic approach to academic success.

HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

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Contents
Planning....................................................................................................................................2
Experience................................................................................................................................3
Reflection.................................................................................................................................5
Perspective view.......................................................................................................................6

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Rolfe reflective model is the simplest among all the reflective models. It focuses on
three most important questions. The questions are-
What - This question demands a description of the situation happened and analysis of
the experience that would assist the person to learn.
So what- This question demands experience and interpretation of oneself and consult
comprehensive insight of different people in the situation. Otherwise, One cannot explore
others interpretations (Brown, 2015).
Now what- At the last stage, take certain steps to improve the practise which you have
learnt from the previous experiences. Make a simple action plan that describes the
improvement in practises.
Planning
When I started preparing for the exams, I had an idea of the areas to be prepared to
achieve certain marks. However, this time I realized that preparing a set study goal would
give me more result. I started preparing a strict study plan, I realised that having a plan will
encourage me to do better and study more. This is how I started constructing “Study Goal
tool” for my exams. Getting organised and focusing on study goals is the initial step, which
will be needed to achieve exam success. Goal setting is a powerful process, which motivates
to think about the ideal future and turn visionary efforts to realistic future. I included revision
of every chapter of every subject in the study plan. I discussed my study plan with my
teachers. Teachers advised me to use guide books and reference books to get acquaint with
more case studies relevant to my subject matter. I prepared timetable for the whole day with
specific time to a particular chapter. After going through the whole chapter, I used various
previous year`s exam papers to test and evaluate myself. I compared my answers to the last
year`s topper answer sheets and learnt how can I improve my writing answer styles. Through

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topper answer sheet, I analysed and came to know how to use tables, graphs and highlight the
problems in the case studies of the particular chapter because self-evaluation plays an
important role in success of any exam. The way to success is not simple and straight. There is
a curve known as failure and these failures create a loop of confusion. One can achieve the
goals with determination and perseverance and faith in self. Exam time free calendar tool
helped to make study plan in minutes by deciding how much time a topic of a subject needs.
After making the timetable, I reviewed the time that I have assigned to each subject to
smoothen my preparations. I was motivated because of the maximum marks of students of
last exams conducted by the authority. I used an operant conditioning theory to achieve
change behaviour during my exams. I surrounded myself with books. I explored a place
where I felt most comfortable. I decided to stay in a room alone or library in my colony near
to my house. Before planning the preparation process, I sat calmly to make set my goals
because I was unclear about the goals. I decided to achieve the goal as 90% marks in the
exam this time. I created short goals, which can completed within a day that leads to way to
long term goals. Focusing on goals in the short term remains a motivating factor. Many
students in my class have been achieving good marks in the subject in which I lag. I asked
my friend to conduct a group study so that, It will help me as well as others to solve
problems. Group study motivates each other to perform better in a group. It also inculcates
competition in one’s mind.
Experience
After having a set plan goals in my hand, I explored my strengths and weaknesses.
The subject that I like the most was more focused ignoring the rest of subject, which plays
equal important role to achieve wonderful marks. Many of my classmates failed to outline the
process to achieve study goals because they could not stick to their plan. I noticed that they
haven`t created a realistic plan which more focuses on weakness. Weakness in a particular

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subject needs more time to cover the topics. The difficult subjects should be prepared much
earlier to exams. Therefore, teachers can help to solve the problems. I used SMART goal
setting concept to outline my goals. Each component of SMART is beneficial especially in
education. I experienced that studying continuously for exams is a hard task. I decided to
avoid video games, watching television and roaming around with my friends. However, I had
to avoid these things just for two months. I started following my timetable and worked hard
to achieve my goals. However, the motivational factors do not continue for long. I lose my
inspiration in between the prolong exam duration. I feel lazy. Sometimes I sleep more, get
tire to do anything, roam here and there as a break, and waste my time.
Motivation is a strong reason why I study and make plans as a driving force to
achieve the goals. I made mistakes while making the plan; I have not included the celebration
of small wins. After completing the exams, I notice the goals were lacking the power of small
wins through celebration. Acknowledgment of achieving small goals will raise the confidence
and encourage shifting the focus on the other subjects (Nuttin, 2014). I should believe that
SMART goals are achievable. Do not confuse celebration with time wasting activities. I
could not engage myself in treat. I always excused it as time waste activity. I should have
celebrated my achievements and always remember to keep my eyes on the goal. Moreover,
the goal planning helped me to reduce same time exam stress. The stress level does not allow
executing the task patiently.
Dewey`s theory establishes that experience arises when there is an interaction
between two major principles- interaction and continuity. Interaction refers to conditional
influence on one’s behaviour. Continuity is the experience where a person will influence
his /her future for better or worse. From interaction point of view, I kept myself updated
through group studies. Any update regarding subject or syllabus reach to the students through

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interaction. The continuity factor was not very strong in my case. As there was a time of two
months for exams to arrive, so this time tend me to get lazy.
Reflection
I was able to develop lifelong learning and update myself with all kinds of abilities,
interest, and knowledge practically through education. The time during exams stimulates
learning powers of the mind. I was able to maintain discipline through punctuality, and time
management. I attained punctuality during preparing for the exams. Through group studies, I
was able to build team spirit. I started helping my classmates. We worked as a team. The
motive of group study was to solve subject related problems.
Mere experience activity of carrying out development in academic results may not be
sufficient to give a sustainable improvement in future. Judging and evaluation is a part of
reflection. Reflection contributes to learning and development. By reading various subject
related case studies about the implication of theories. I helped me to develop my analytical
thinking. I learnt to concentrate more on important things. The diverted energies of my mind
concentrated and focused on important things. Slowly and gradually in a two month time, I
could develop my strength to focus. I made myself strong enough not to be influenced by
sensory inputs such as loud noises and watching TV and video games (Taylor, 2018). This
helped me to control my mind from distraction. The cycle of learning comprises some
elements. The elements are concrete experience, observation, and reflection, formation of
abstract concepts and test them in new situations. I have not contributed equal time to each
subject. I more focused on the weak subject in which I was not scoring well. However, this
time I realised overconfidence for the strength subject can led us down. The reflection starts
with awareness of weak subjects and uncomfortable topics. I studied more deeply in subjects
in which I was scoring low in previous exams. I focused on identifying the knowledge of

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weak topic, challenging assumptions, and exploring the alternatives to understand the topics
easily (Jayatilleke, & Mackie 2013).
Perspective view
A psychologist works on the subject named human behaviour. Psychology is related
to read someone`s mind. In the study of behaviour, it is the study of mental functions. The
goal of psychology is to predict, explain, and control behaviour. The study of psychology
aims to treat people who suffer from mental illness and emotional difficulties or research on
how people think. The field of psychology constitutes clinical, neuroscience, cognitive,
social, development, and statistics (Gluckman, 2017). There are many types of psychologist
with an array of specialisation in a particular subject. The objective of one psychological
career can differ from other psychologist goals (Layne, 2018). The areas of specialisation can
be counselling, research, and clinical. Specialisation determines a specific goal in the
particular field.
 Research psychologist- It studies people and behaviour with fundamental
psychological principles. Research psychologists develop new theories to understand what
people think. They design concepts, collect data, and analyse them. The goal is to interpret
the result by using concept. A type of research psychologist is an evolutionary
psychologist (dicks, 2014). The goal of evolutionary psychologist is to determine how
evolutionary principles such as fitness influences one`s thought and feeling. In today`s era,
the scope of evolutionary psychologist is not emerging much successful because behaviour
of highly rigid ancestral thinking is changing and the youth is adapting new behaviour.
 Counselling Psychologist- This is one of the fastest emerging careers in the
world due to increasing addiction to alcohol, drugs, and cocaine. In counselling career, it
has its own identification in the name of substance abuse counsellor. To be qualified as
counsellor, one should have strong personality especially when dealing with patients, who

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are suffering from withdrawal symptoms (Douglas, Woolfe, Strawbridge, Kasket, &
Galbraith, 2016). Counselling psychologists handle temporary, less deep and long issues.
Psychologists assist people dealing with problems such as dealing with death, with
available resources or personal strengths (James, 2017).
 Applied Psychologists- Applied psychologist works on effect that poverty and
teaching style have on students. It helps teachers to overcome academic challenges. In
applied psychologist, it develops theories to resolve and improve teaching and learning
process. Clinical Psychologists- Clinical Psychologists help people to resolve variety of
emotional, social, and mental health problems (Browne, 2018). Firstly, psychologists use
various treatment methods such as psychoanalysis. For example- A neuropsychologist
works with a person who has injured head and lost his/her memory (Schwartz, Lilienfeld,
Meca, & Sauvigné, 2016). A neuropsychologist helps them to return from the trauma and
live a productive life. A popular career in clinical psychologist is emerging as marriage
and family therapist.
Making strategies to achieve future goals in the field of psychology-
After obtaining graduation degree in psychology, one has to prepare strong
educational base to handle challenges of human behaviour which means to obtain a master`s
and doctoral degree in psychology. Before taking a decision to become a psychology major, I
have to make my life so disciplined that I could devote my maximum time to learn the skills
required (Dowd, 2018). If one adheres to listen to personal problems of individuals and
families, psychology career will whole-heartedly. Just focus on listening others problem
without judging them on any problem and the activity. Try to listen to problems patiently,
collect, and analyse data to test the situation. To be a successful Psychologist, talk to people
that work in the psychology field (Duckworth, Gendler, & Gross, 2016). Psychologist
communicates with patients to encourage people to share their repressed thoughts.

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Psychologist tries to manage their own reaction and accept the problems of the patient such
as sex offenders. Psychologists try to understand their deeds and bring changes in them.

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Nuttin, J. (2014). Future time perspective and motivation: Theory and research method. UK:
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