About the Psychology Board Exam
Exam Coverage
- Theories of Personality
- Abnormal Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Psychological Assessment
Key References
- RA 10029 (Psychology Act of 2009)
- PRC Code of Ethics for Psychologists
- Major Psychology Textbooks
- Psychological Testing Standards
- APA Guidelines and Standards
Theories of Personality
Comprehensive review of major personality theories, theorists (Freud, Jung, Adler, etc.), and human development.
Topics Covered (6)
- Psychoanalytic & Psychodynamic Theories
- Behavioral & Social Learning Theories
- Humanistic & Existential Theories
- Trait & Dispositional Theories
- Cognitive & Developmental Theories
- Filipino Psychology (Sikolohiyang Pilipino)
Abnormal Psychology
Study of psychological disorders, DSM-5-TR criteria, clinical features, and maladaptive behaviors.
Topics Covered (6)
- Anxiety & Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Depressive & Bipolar Disorders
- Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Application of psychological principles to workplace behavior, HR, organizational development, and personnel selection.
Topics Covered (6)
- Job Analysis & Selection
- Training & Development
- Performance Appraisal
- Motivation & Job Satisfaction
- Leadership & Organizational Culture
- Work Conditions & Ergonomics
Psychological Assessment
Principles of psychometrics, test construction, reliability, validity, and major psychological tests.
Topics Covered (6)
- Psychometric Properties (Reliability & Validity)
- Test Construction & Item Analysis
- Intelligence & Aptitude Testing
- Personality Assessment (Objective & Projective)
- Ethical Standards in Assessment (RA 10029)
- Statistics for Assessment
Comprehensive Psychology Board Exam Preparation Guide
π 3-Month Study Timeline
Month 1: Foundation
- β’ Week 1-2: General Psychology theories
- β’ Week 3: Developmental Psychology (Piaget, Erikson)
- β’ Week 4: Personality theories (Freud, Jung, Adler)
- β’ Daily: 15 practice questions
Month 2: Application
- β’ Week 1: Psychological Assessment & Testing
- β’ Week 2: Counseling & Psychotherapy
- β’ Week 3-4: Statistics & Research Methods
- β’ Daily: 25 practice questions
Month 3: Mastery
- β’ Week 1: Professional Ethics & RA 10029
- β’ Week 2-3: Full practice exams & review
- β’ Week 4: Weak areas & final review
- β’ Daily: 50+ practice questions
π§ Academic Preparation
- β’ Master psychological theories and major psychologists (Freud, Piaget, Erikson, Skinner, Rogers)
- β’ Understand psychometric properties (reliability, validity, standardization)
- β’ Practice statistical analysis and hypothesis testing
- β’ Study counseling theories and therapeutic techniques in depth
- β’ Memorize key psychological tests and their specific uses
- β’ Create comparison charts for similar concepts
- β’ Use mnemonics for remembering defense mechanisms and stages
βοΈ Professional Knowledge
- β’ Memorize RA 10029 key provisions (education requirements, scope of practice)
- β’ Understand PRC Code of Ethics for Psychologists thoroughly
- β’ Know professional standards and boundaries in practice
- β’ Study ethical decision-making frameworks (APA guidelines)
- β’ Practice with Filipino cultural context scenarios
- β’ Review confidentiality and informed consent requirements
- β’ Study dual relationships and ethical dilemmas
Exam Day Strategies
Before the Exam
- β’ Get 7-8 hours of sleep the night before
- β’ Eat a balanced breakfast (avoid heavy meals)
- β’ Arrive at the venue at least 1 hour early
- β’ Bring valid IDs, test permit, and required documents
- β’ Bring extra pencils and erasers
During the Exam
- β’ Read each question carefully (watch for "EXCEPT" or "NOT")
- β’ Answer easy questions first, mark difficult ones
- β’ Manage your time - don't spend too long on one item
- β’ Use process of elimination for tricky questions
- β’ Trust your first instinct unless clearly wrong
Key Psychologists Quick Reference
Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalysis, Id/Ego/Superego, Defense Mechanisms, Psychosexual Stages
Stages: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital
Jean Piaget
Cognitive Development, Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete/Formal Operations
Ages: 0-2, 2-7, 7-11, 11+ years
Erik Erikson
Psychosocial Development, 8 Stages of Life, Identity vs Role Confusion
Trust, Autonomy, Initiative, Industry, Identity, Intimacy, Generativity, Integrity
B.F. Skinner
Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement/Punishment, Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed/Variable Ratio, Fixed/Variable Interval
Carl Rogers
Person-Centered Therapy, Unconditional Positive Regard, Self-Actualization
Core conditions: Empathy, Congruence, UPR
Abraham Maslow
Hierarchy of Needs, Self-Actualization, Humanistic Psychology
Physiological β Safety β Love β Esteem β Self-Actualization
Lawrence Kohlberg
Moral Development Theory
Pre-conventional, Conventional, Post-conventional
Albert Bandura
Social Learning Theory, Observational Learning, Self-Efficacy
Bobo doll experiment, Reciprocal determinism
Carl Jung
Analytical Psychology, Collective Unconscious, Archetypes
Persona, Shadow, Anima/Animus, Self
Developmental Stages Comparison Table
| Age | Freud (Psychosexual) | Erikson (Psychosocial) | Piaget (Cognitive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 year | Oral Stage | Trust vs Mistrust | Sensorimotor (0-2 yrs) Object permanence |
| 1-3 years | Anal Stage | Autonomy vs Shame/Doubt | |
| 3-6 years | Phallic Stage (Oedipus/Electra complex) | Initiative vs Guilt | Preoperational (2-7 yrs) Egocentrism, symbolic thought |
| 6-12 years | Latency Stage | Industry vs Inferiority | Concrete Operational (7-11 yrs) Conservation, logical thinking |
| 12+ years | Genital Stage | Identity vs Role Confusion | Formal Operational (11+ yrs) Abstract reasoning, hypothetical thinking |
| Young Adult | - | Intimacy vs Isolation | - |
| Middle Adult | - | Generativity vs Stagnation | - |
| Late Adult | - | Integrity vs Despair | - |
Freud's Defense Mechanisms (Must Memorize!)
- Repression: Unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts/memories
- Denial: Refusing to accept reality or facts
- Projection: Attributing own unacceptable feelings to others
- Displacement: Redirecting emotions from original source to safer target
- Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities
- Rationalization: Creating logical excuses for behavior
- Regression: Reverting to earlier developmental stage behaviors
- Reaction Formation: Behaving opposite to true feelings
- Identification: Adopting characteristics of someone else
- Compensation: Overachieving in one area to make up for deficiency in another
Major Counseling & Psychotherapy Theories
1. Person-Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers)
Core Conditions: Empathy, Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR), Congruence/Genuineness
Goal: Self-actualization, client as expert of their own experience
2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Key Concept: Thoughts β Emotions β Behaviors (change thoughts to change feelings/behaviors)
Techniques: Cognitive restructuring, thought records, behavioral activation, exposure therapy
3. Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy (Freud)
Focus: Unconscious conflicts, early childhood experiences, defense mechanisms
Techniques: Free association, dream analysis, transference/countertransference
4. Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls)
Focus: Here-and-now awareness, personal responsibility
Techniques: Empty chair, "I" statements, awareness exercises
5. Reality Therapy (William Glasser)
Focus: Choice theory, personal responsibility, present behavior
WDEP System: Wants, Doing, Evaluation, Planning
6. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Focus: Solutions, not problems; future-oriented
Techniques: Miracle question, scaling questions, exception-finding
Essential Statistics & Research Methods
Descriptive Statistics Formulas
- Mean (M) = Ξ£X / N
- Median = Middle value
- Mode = Most frequent value
- Range = Highest - Lowest
- Variance (ΟΒ²) = Ξ£(X-M)Β² / N
- SD (Ο) = βVariance
- z-score = (X - M) / SD
Correlation & Reliability
- β’ Pearson r: -1 to +1 (linear relationship)
- β’ Spearman rho: Rank-order correlation
- β’ Cronbach's Alpha: β₯ 0.70 acceptable, β₯ 0.80 good
- β’ Test-Retest: Temporal stability over time
- β’ Split-Half: Internal consistency
- β’ Inter-Rater: Agreement between raters
- β’ Kuder-Richardson (KR-20): For dichotomous items
Inferential Statistics Tests
- β’ t-test: Compare 2 means
- β’ ANOVA: Compare 3+ means
- β’ Chi-Square: Categorical data
- β’ Regression: Predict outcomes
- β’ ANCOVA: Control for covariates
Research Designs
- β’ Experimental: IV manipulation, causation
- β’ Quasi-Experimental: No random assignment
- β’ Correlational: Relationship, not causation
- β’ Cross-Sectional: One time point
- β’ Longitudinal: Multiple time points
Sampling Methods
- β’ Random: Each has equal chance
- β’ Stratified: Subgroups represented
- β’ Cluster: Groups selected
- β’ Convenience: Easiest to access
- β’ Purposive: Specific criteria
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- β’ Confusing Freud's defense mechanisms with each other
- β’ Mixing up Piaget's and Erikson's developmental stages
- β’ Forgetting the difference between reliability and validity
- β’ Not reading case scenarios completely before answering
- β’ Confusing positive/negative reinforcement with punishment
- β’ Mixing up parametric vs non-parametric tests
- β’ Overlooking ethical considerations in scenarios
- β’ Not knowing RA 10029 key provisions
RA 10029 (Psychology Act of 2009) Quick Reference
Key Provisions:
- Only licensed psychologists/psychometricians can administer psychological tests
- Psychological assessment results must be kept confidential
- Psychometricians work under supervision of a licensed psychologist
- CPD units required for license renewal
Major Psychological Tests to Know
Intelligence Tests
- β’ WAIS-IV: Adult intelligence (16-90 yrs)
- β’ WISC-V: Child intelligence (6-16 yrs)
- β’ Stanford-Binet: 2-85+ years, IQ testing
- β’ Raven's PM: Non-verbal intelligence
Personality Tests
- β’ MMPI-2: Clinical assessment, 567 items
- β’ 16PF: Personality factors (Cattell)
- β’ Rorschach: Projective, inkblots
- β’ TAT: Projective, picture stories
Recommended Study Resources
Core Textbooks
- β’ Psychology by Myers & DeWall
- β’ Psychological Testing by Kaplan
- β’ Counseling by Corey
Statistics
- β’ Statistics for Psychology by Aron
- β’ Research Methods by Cozby
- β’ SPSS Practice
Philippine Context
- β’ RA 10029 Full Text
- β’ PRC Code of Ethics
- β’ PAP Guidelines
Complete Psychology Board Exam Coverage
4 comprehensive categories with 400+ practice questions covering all major subjects in the PRC Psychometrician Licensure Examination. Questions based on RA 10029, PRC standards, and professional practice.