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When it comes to exams, fear is counterproductive
Exams, regardless of whether they take place in school, university or college or for professional qualifications, can be stressful.
Hours of preparation and revision, along with coursework to be handed in, pressure to perform on the day itself, and waiting for the results to arrive can all combine to make you feel worried, stressed or even depressed. And parents, guardians and friends can find it every bit as hard to cope.
The approach of examination means the beginning of fear in the mind of a student.
As a matter of fact, examinations are the only worry for school students. They are the only unpleasant experience in an otherwise happy and carefree life. Games, movies, television and other leisure activities are all stopped for the preparations of examinations. Students are not found at the cinema houses, restaurants and other places of entertainment during the examination days.
Students are aware that their marks will be communicated to the guardians and it would be insulting and embarrassing if they do not score well. They know that if they fail they will not only experience humiliation first-hand but it will also be embarrassing for them to face the people around them including their friends, neighbours and cousins. All these things combine to urge a student to work hard. Examinations are, therefore, a spur to effort, an incentive to work.
It cannot be denied, however, that examinations do exert as unusual strain on the minds of the students who lose all their zest for life at the approach of one. Tutors are engaged, notes and guess papers are purchased, special lectures are attended, coaching classes are taken, in short, all possible measures are adopted to get through the examination. The reason for all of this is that throughout the term the students pay little heed to their studies and so when a test is near they have to concentrate all their energies on studies.
The scheme of internal assessment introduced some years ago by the CBSE is intended as a step in the direction to keep a watch on the students' labour and regularity. However, even this has its own drawbacks but it is still better than the Board examination which is a huge stress-builder for the students.
The CBSE has initiated measures to reduce the stress of 10th and 12th standard students. It has released a short film and a booklet. In the short film methods to control the stress and in the 76-page booklet tips to decrease stress is given.
In the booklet, answers to 40 questions which are usually asked to counsellors are given. Also, guidelines are given for parents on what to do and avoid during the examination. The main objective of the CBSE is to make appearing in Boards stress-free.
Many mantras are outlined in the booklet for the body, soul and brain of students so that they stay tension-free during the examination. It has also been pointed out that the students should talk less and listen more, besides listening to music. '4P', an examination preparation method described in the booklet, means purposefully, proceed, pursue persistently and prayerfully.
Through the booklet, the CBSE has described what examination stress is exactly and the diseases that occur due to stress. How to avoid stress is taught in detail in the booklet and the film. The CBSE this year has stressed on food and nutrition, physical exercises, time management and sports by which students can stay tension-free during the examinations.
Class X student Isha Shastri of St Joseph's Convent said by introducing the CCE system the CBSE has lifted a lot of pressure from the student but it is still hard to handle the expectations of parents, relatives and all concerned.
"Strangely, whenever I meet a person and he comes to know that I am studying in the 10th standard, the only thing that matters to him is my result," she said.
Isha's mother Seema Shastri, a teacher, said being in the profession she is well aware of what kind of pressure not only the students but even their parents face during Board examinations. It is evident that whenever students are under pressure, there is a possibility that they would mess up the examination. At this time of year when examinations are approaching, parents should ensure that they do not put pressure on their wards.
Another 10th standard student, Arindam, said, "Accept it or not but the result of the 10th standard exam matters. It decides which stream we will be in for the rest of our lives. What people will think or what my friends will say about my result is something that scares me more than the real outcome of the result."
A parent, Ashima Singh, said, "We are living in a society where answerability to the people is important and our children's performance, the career they opt for and colleges they join matters to our social standing."
Here are a few tips that may help students reduce the exam stress:
Work on self confidence
First of all every individual has to work on self-confidence. If one has high self-confidence then he/she is less susceptible to exam stress. Remember the power comes from within and when the student will think that he/she is capable of passing the exam, reduction of stress will be automatic.
Take action
If a student does not understand some subject material, getting stressed out would not help. Instead, take action by seeing the subject teacher or ask classmates to help you understand the problem.
Avoid much pressure
A student should aim to do best but recognise that if he/she thinks that "anything less than 90 per cent means I've failed" then he/she is creating unnecessary stress for themselves.
Take a break
As soon as a student notices that he/she is losing his/her concentration, they should take a short break - go for a walk, talk to a friend or just listen to some music. Then they will feel refreshed and able to concentrate on the revision.
On the exam day:
Try to avoid panic
It's natural to feel some exam nerves prior to starting the exam and that can be a positive and motivating feeling. However, getting excessively nervous is counter productive as it hinders your ability to think clearly.
Take deep breaths
The quickest and most effective way of eliminating feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long, slow deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system.
Do not discuss
After the exam is over, do not spend time focussing where you think you went wrong. Often students are their own harshest critics. They should congratulate themselves for the things they did right and learn from the bits where they know they could have done better and then move on.
Suicide is no solution
Students should not even think of attempting suicide. If the exam result is not as per their expectations, do not worry. It is not the end of the world. There are many other career alternatives which may suit a student better. There are lot of examples of people who did not score well in examinations in school and college turned successful later in life. Success is not a piece of paper containing a score but the happiness of a person who grows in life by making his own decisions.
Exams, regardless of whether they take place in school, university or college or for professional qualifications, can be stressful.
Hours of preparation and revision, along with coursework to be handed in, pressure to perform on the day itself, and waiting for the results to arrive can all combine to make you feel worried, stressed or even depressed. And parents, guardians and friends can find it every bit as hard to cope.
The approach of examination means the beginning of fear in the mind of a student.
As a matter of fact, examinations are the only worry for school students. They are the only unpleasant experience in an otherwise happy and carefree life. Games, movies, television and other leisure activities are all stopped for the preparations of examinations. Students are not found at the cinema houses, restaurants and other places of entertainment during the examination days.
Students are aware that their marks will be communicated to the guardians and it would be insulting and embarrassing if they do not score well. They know that if they fail they will not only experience humiliation first-hand but it will also be embarrassing for them to face the people around them including their friends, neighbours and cousins. All these things combine to urge a student to work hard. Examinations are, therefore, a spur to effort, an incentive to work.
It cannot be denied, however, that examinations do exert as unusual strain on the minds of the students who lose all their zest for life at the approach of one. Tutors are engaged, notes and guess papers are purchased, special lectures are attended, coaching classes are taken, in short, all possible measures are adopted to get through the examination. The reason for all of this is that throughout the term the students pay little heed to their studies and so when a test is near they have to concentrate all their energies on studies.
The scheme of internal assessment introduced some years ago by the CBSE is intended as a step in the direction to keep a watch on the students' labour and regularity. However, even this has its own drawbacks but it is still better than the Board examination which is a huge stress-builder for the students.
The CBSE has initiated measures to reduce the stress of 10th and 12th standard students. It has released a short film and a booklet. In the short film methods to control the stress and in the 76-page booklet tips to decrease stress is given.
In the booklet, answers to 40 questions which are usually asked to counsellors are given. Also, guidelines are given for parents on what to do and avoid during the examination. The main objective of the CBSE is to make appearing in Boards stress-free.
Many mantras are outlined in the booklet for the body, soul and brain of students so that they stay tension-free during the examination. It has also been pointed out that the students should talk less and listen more, besides listening to music. '4P', an examination preparation method described in the booklet, means purposefully, proceed, pursue persistently and prayerfully.
Through the booklet, the CBSE has described what examination stress is exactly and the diseases that occur due to stress. How to avoid stress is taught in detail in the booklet and the film. The CBSE this year has stressed on food and nutrition, physical exercises, time management and sports by which students can stay tension-free during the examinations.
Class X student Isha Shastri of St Joseph's Convent said by introducing the CCE system the CBSE has lifted a lot of pressure from the student but it is still hard to handle the expectations of parents, relatives and all concerned.
"Strangely, whenever I meet a person and he comes to know that I am studying in the 10th standard, the only thing that matters to him is my result," she said.
Isha's mother Seema Shastri, a teacher, said being in the profession she is well aware of what kind of pressure not only the students but even their parents face during Board examinations. It is evident that whenever students are under pressure, there is a possibility that they would mess up the examination. At this time of year when examinations are approaching, parents should ensure that they do not put pressure on their wards.
Another 10th standard student, Arindam, said, "Accept it or not but the result of the 10th standard exam matters. It decides which stream we will be in for the rest of our lives. What people will think or what my friends will say about my result is something that scares me more than the real outcome of the result."
A parent, Ashima Singh, said, "We are living in a society where answerability to the people is important and our children's performance, the career they opt for and colleges they join matters to our social standing."
Here are a few tips that may help students reduce the exam stress:
Work on self confidence
First of all every individual has to work on self-confidence. If one has high self-confidence then he/she is less susceptible to exam stress. Remember the power comes from within and when the student will think that he/she is capable of passing the exam, reduction of stress will be automatic.
Take action
If a student does not understand some subject material, getting stressed out would not help. Instead, take action by seeing the subject teacher or ask classmates to help you understand the problem.
Avoid much pressure
A student should aim to do best but recognise that if he/she thinks that "anything less than 90 per cent means I've failed" then he/she is creating unnecessary stress for themselves.
Take a break
As soon as a student notices that he/she is losing his/her concentration, they should take a short break - go for a walk, talk to a friend or just listen to some music. Then they will feel refreshed and able to concentrate on the revision.
On the exam day:
Try to avoid panic
It's natural to feel some exam nerves prior to starting the exam and that can be a positive and motivating feeling. However, getting excessively nervous is counter productive as it hinders your ability to think clearly.
Take deep breaths
The quickest and most effective way of eliminating feelings of stress and panic is to close your eyes and take several long, slow deep breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole nervous system.
Do not discuss
After the exam is over, do not spend time focussing where you think you went wrong. Often students are their own harshest critics. They should congratulate themselves for the things they did right and learn from the bits where they know they could have done better and then move on.
Suicide is no solution
Students should not even think of attempting suicide. If the exam result is not as per their expectations, do not worry. It is not the end of the world. There are many other career alternatives which may suit a student better. There are lot of examples of people who did not score well in examinations in school and college turned successful later in life. Success is not a piece of paper containing a score but the happiness of a person who grows in life by making his own decisions.
