The ones who survive such attempts often find their confidence levels dip, affecting their later education.

The City police confirm the suicides. Suicide victims come from different classes, from the seventh standard to post graduate, technical, non-technical to professional courses. The number of post-exam suicides (due to fear of low performance in exams) are more than pre-exam suicides, say the police.

Police don't officially categorise suicides as exam-related. But they draw conclusions based on the version recorded by the complainants unless there is any scope for suspicion, explains police inspector M P Saravagol.
In one instance last year, a final year MBBS student of Bangalore Medical College hanged herself at her residence reportedly due to fear of poor performance in annual examination.

The results were announced on the same evening and she had passed with distinction!

How could the girl pass with distinction if she was afraid of poor performance? She could have committed suicide immediately after the results. In another incident in Rajarajeshwarinagar, a student consumed poison and died as he was reportedly upset with his performance in second year PU annual exams. He ended life one month after the examinations were over.

To prevent the family's reputation being damaged, parents of the deceased attribute their action to
examination phobia or fear of low performance, the police said. But Saravagol agreed that several students attempt to commit suicides due to high levels of stress and anxiety. Moreover, the anxiety level in those appearing for board exams was certainly high because of pressure from parents.

The high level of exam anxiety led to tension regarding the outcome of the exam.

That ultimately drove a student to take the extreme step, he adds. The need for recognition becomes critical for students during board examinations. As the results are made public, psychological problems erupt. Identity crisis, uncertainty regarding getting admission to the courses of their choice and fear of low percentage tarnishing their image and immediate disheartening reaction from parents finally drive them to end their lives, explains police officers.