The reforms outlined by both National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) may be good enough for bringing out analytical and reasoning abilities in students preparing for the highly touted X and XII final exams but not by any means the way forward to de-stress students and prevent suicides.

Experts are viewing the forthcoming examination more stressful than ever before owing to uncertainty of the new curriculum and “out of syllabus” analytical or higher order thinking skills, popularly called HOTS coupled with loss of appetite and sleep.

Though temporary, stress of this kind, commonly known as ‘feel it right now’ acute stress can turn to the more subtle chronic type with successive examinations performed under pressure. Peer pressure and post-exam stress analysis, in more serious terms, can destabilise memory and concentration and weaken the immune system, thereby limiting its ability to fight off even the most harmless of illnesses, warn experts.

“The new NCF, wordings has been twisted in such a manner that students have to apply their analytical and thinking skills to solve them. It will still take time to get implemented and only a fraction of exam pattern is supposed to change in the forth coming board exams.” say Ms Reva Alex Danial, Principal, St Paul’s School, New Delhi.

Agree experts on the health frontier. Apart from exerting mental pressure and psychological changes, physically, a child can experience heart pounding, headaches, sweaty palms, indigestion, sleeplessness, and tight stomach under extreme circumstances — things likely to prevent one from giving the best shot. Researchers at Michigan State University say that exam pressure is more likely to impair the performance of good students than average ones by affecting their strong short-term or working memory that enables them to process numbers and thoughts while focusing on a problem.

Counsellors suggest early preparation / mock tests, time management/breaks and a healthy lifestyle to handle students’ fear to ensure studies do not pile up at the end moment and cause undue havoc.

Examination phobia, popularly called ‘Exam ka Bhoot’ syndrome catches children quick and last minute efforts to cram for exams are a common sight witnessed in every household with big dreams. Edibles from caffeine to sugar to proteins are touted to help boost concentration.

Dr S Shanmukhi, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Dept Of Neurology, NIMS, insist that students should ensure they get enough sleep, stay hydrated, forgo excessive amounts of caffeine, take regular breaks and maintain a study routine to stay calm and achieve their best results.

The brain being a hungry organ needs fuel and nutrients particularly during exam times when students are putting additional physical and mental stress on themselves. Hence, it becomes important to consume vitamin E for healthy blood flow, yoghurt for good bacteria and iodine for the brain, citrus fruits to build immunity, baked beans for building proteins and fresh vegetables along with enough water to keep the brain hydrated. Simple breathing exercises and meditation such as vipassana can also benefit the body and mind by improving concentration, memory, self-confidence and above all a healthy and pure mind. 

The exam year kicks off with over 50 competitive exams excluding the CAT, Secondary School Certificate Examination, Higher Secondary examinations, followed by the entrance exams for engineering institutes, pre-medical tests and college admission tests lasting till April. Since these exams will determine the future of students, stress is bound to stay.

Early preparation is the best way to beat exam stress. So is time management. Poor test marks are just the manifestation of a wellness quotient gone horribly wrong. Like many other factors it can be measured by increased blood pressure and stress hormone levels clinically, but can be curtailed equally if the phenomenon is taken seriously! Just remember to eat well, sleep well and study hard – that is the way to bust those exams. No exam is worth a life!