You all would have been geared up for the upcoming NIMHANS 2026 entrance examination that would be on 31st May. As the examination is just around the corner, here are the points to pause for a moment and remember that you are putting in all your efforts.
Dr Arvind Otta, founder and mentor at UPS education have worked with numerous psychology aspirants over the years. As the entrance examination is coming, he completely understands and empathises with each one. As students have entered the last few days, according to him, various emotions and thoughts would pitch in, from fear, confusion, anxiety, to self-doubt, making this overwhelming. Preparation for examinations includes understanding, remembering, analysing questions and revision. These are one of the major factors that determine one’s place in passing the entrance and securing the rank. The other factors that contribute but are often ignored are remaining calm, focused and consistent till the entrance examination day.
The last phase is a time to trust your strength and hard work; be confident and prepare your mind to perform. At the same time, protecting oneself from panicking or reinventing preparation strategies. UPS education students have often shared that the NIMHANS entrance examination is not just about testing your knowledge but also understanding how effectively you can think under pressure, recall concepts accurately and regulate your emotions during academically challenging situations.
Read More: Examination Anxiety: Doubts Kill the Will
So here are certain things Dr Otta would like to share with all the aspirants that would be essential to consider as one enters the last week of preparation –
1. Focus on Revision, Not New Learning
One of the biggest mistakes students make is trying to study a new topic or concept. Though one wants to cover all the topics and prepare their best for the examination, this creates confusion and also reduces confidence.
At this stage, the priority should be
- Revising important theories, disorders, research methods, and statistics.
- Attempt / Revise previous years’ questions and focus on repeated concepts to strengthen them.
- Clarify concepts that you have already studied but still feel uncertain about.
2. Create a realistic timetable for the days left out
Planning for a day based on strengths, areas of improvement, when you can put in more effort at night or in the morning is important. When the plan is reality-based, it gives you confidence gradually. Avoid overplanning or doing everything together, as it would demotivate you.
- Morning/night: whichever time you feel the most active, pick difficult topics or concepts to revise
- Afternoon: practice previous year question papers or mock test
- Morning/night: whichever part of the day you feel more tired, pick quick notes or light topics
- Have a defined relaxation time and sleep properly
3. Skill yourself to manage exam Anxiety
Feeling anxious before any exam is normal, and when it’s a National-level NIMHANS exam, the anxiety can heighten more. Some students fear they will forget the answer, some think they are not prepared enough, and others feel scared of the competition. Every emotion tells you something about yourself, and the anxiety highlights how important the examination is for you. Thus, instead of avoiding or fighting the anxiety, learn to manage it.
- Do not over-discuss preparation with a peer
- Limit social media consumption specially reels which talks about preparation
- Be constant with deep breathing practice
- Write about how you are feeling in a journal
- Try doing JPMR before sleeping
- Stay hydrated and take breaks in between study hours
4. Practice Smartly
Mock tests play an essential role in this phase; you don’t need a marathon of mock tests. Rather than attempting one quality mock test every day is enough.
- Analyse your mistakes properly and focus on both accuracy & speed.
- Sync in the revision and mock test analysis.
5. Time Management
As it’s a time-based paper, even if you know the answers, managing time is what will lead you. Time plays an essential role as one has to balance time, speed and accuracy together. One of these cannot be loosened at any cost. For this :
- Spend enough time reading the questions, do not rush
- Avoid spending excessive time on one difficult question
- Attempt easy and moderate questions first
- Keep an eye on the time, but do not get obsessed with it
6. Protect your Sleep
One of the most underrated dimensions. Many students sacrifice sleep to study more and more. But with sleep, you also lose concentration, memory recall and emotional stability. To retain information and perform effectively, your brain needs rest and sleep.
- Sleep for at least 6-7 hours
- Reduce caffeine intake
- Avoid waking up the whole night before the examination
On the day of the examination
- Do not compare preparations and notes outside the examination hall
- Avoid any negative discussion
- Reach early
- Pack all essential documents a night before
- Before leaving the examination hall, hug yourself for all the hard work you have put in.
- Do deep breathing till you receive the question paper
Not Just an Exam!
The above-mentioned factors are not just points of motivation but reminders by Dr Otta of the strengths and skills that guide one during the most emotionally demanding moment in a student’s life. The examination may feel defining in the moment, but it’s not a measurement of one’s worth. The passion for psychology, resilience, and discipline already reflects our strengths.
Success in any examination depends on many factors, some in control and some out of control. Every exam contains uncertainty and anxiety. How one responds is the key to it. Many successful psychologists, researchers and mental health professionals once sat in a similar situation, anxious yet hopeful, uncertain yet determined.
And it’s your turn today !! Believe in yourself
All the very best for your examination !!
