Simplified evaluation lowers anxiety among students

Updated on: Monday, February 20, 2012

The most dreaded time of the year is back, though the anxiety that lurks at every corner during exam time has been less this year. The helplines that help students cope with difficult times are not getting as many queries, nor are counsellors and teachers being inundated by terrified students.

The simpler exam format, recent leniency of the boards in marking students and sufficient help available are being cited as reasons for decrease in anxiety levels of students. The only group expressing worry is students who have not been regular at studies or are anxious by nature.

"Most students who call us are worried about not being prepared for the exams. One of the kids said she had been studying in the format prescribed for competitive exams. Now, she is not comfortable with the exam format," said paediatrician and child psychologist Dr Shubhda Khirwadkar, who counsels students on a helpline floated by Adolescent Health Academy.

When such distress calls come, she explains to students not to waste much time on trying to understand new things, and instead spend more time revising what they have already studied. She believes there are more students from state board asking for help, rather than for CBSE, due to the changed evaluation system which has eased burden on students.

Another counsellor from the helpline, Dr Nishikant Kotwal, also said that most people call to complain about feeling unprepared. "It is not that they are actually not set to face examinations. They only feel that way as peers discuss their own level of preparation and the different methods of studying. This makes them feel others are better prepared for the exams than they are," he said.

Teachers, who are most often the first shoulders to lean on for students, also said that the present batch is not as jittery during the exams as their seniors. Baban Taywade, principal of Dhanwate National College, believes that kids who study all through the year are not anxious.

"The exam pattern is simple and help is available from tuition classes. So, almost 90% of students are free of any anxiety. The concern most of them have is landing up in a good college," said Aruna Deshraj, a teacher of JN Tata Parsi Girls' High School.

"We have a lot of students coming in at the last moment as they are surrounded by a lot of fears. This year, though, the footfalls have been fewer," agreed counsellor Dr Shishir Palsapure. He said that most students have accepted stress as a part of exams and do not ask for help to tackle it, as they believe that stress is a performance booster. "They do not understand that beyond a point it can hamper their performance, especially memory," he said.

Counsellors suggest

Avoid nightcaps, regularly have seven hours of sleep

Eat well, do not skip meals

Exercise regularly

Do not assume a disastrous or negative future. Whatever happens can be tragic but is not the end of the world

Times of India

Simplified evaluation lowers anxiety among students

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