diff --git a/spec/config_spec_helper.rb b/spec/config_spec_helper.rb
--- a/spec/config_spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/config_spec_helper.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,29 @@
   end
 
   def enable_multicontest
-    find_or_create_and_set_config('system.multicontests','boolean','true')
+    find_or_create_and_set_config(Configuration::MULTICONTESTS_KEY,
+                                  'boolean','true')
   end
 
   def disable_multicontest
-    find_or_create_and_set_config('system.multicontests','boolean','false')
+    find_or_create_and_set_config(Configuration::MULTICONTESTS_KEY,
+                                  'boolean','false')
+  end
+
+  def set_indv_contest_mode
+    find_or_create_and_set_config(Configuration::SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY,
+                                  'string','indv-contest')
   end
 
+  def set_standard_mode
+    find_or_create_and_set_config(Configuration::SYSTEM_MODE_CONF_KEY,
+                                  'string','standard')
+  end
+
+  def set_contest_time_limit(limit)
+    find_or_create_and_set_config(Configuration::CONTEST_TIME_LIMIT_KEY,
+                                  'string',limit)
+    # clear old value
+    Configuration.contest_time_str = nil
+  end
 end