Combating exam fear

“Parents and teachers, being on the front line, are the most influential people in motivating students during pre-exam period. A word of praise or a small recognition can go a long way and help the child gain self-confidence,” says Al Wisam School Principal Dr Lina Lewis.

She believes that parents and teachers play a pivotal role in guiding children during their stress period. They can measure the level of stress and difficulty in learning different subjects. They can ask the child to do a self-assessment and ask them to identify their strength and weakness.

“The most powerful way of motivating a child is actually setting time to listen to the child and be able to understand their needs. The student’s voice is the road to change and once the child is heard, academic improvement can follow,” says Lina.

Competitions to excel both in studies and extra curricular activities are rising than it was ever before. In the rat race to attain new heights, students face exam hurdles. 

The unconditional love from parents and teachers will transform students to understand their real-self and avoid destructive thoughts. Most children suffer from anxiety and fear of exams. 

“As the students struggle to face the daunting task of writing exams how to respond to the stressful situation is most important. By taking a few steps, parents can help ease their troubles and help prepare for exams. The best thing to do is to be always with them, providing all kinds of help”, says Dr John Panackel, chairman, Pravasi Guidance Centre.

Even though the exams are at the hand, it is not necessary to study all the time. Devoting adequate time for revision and recreational activities will freshen up the mind to stay calm, clear and focused.

Amrithavarshini Sathya, a student of Class 10, preparing for board exams said that she is getting good support from teachers and parents. 

“The topics are complete so we get ample time for preparing for exam. We are strictly advised not to mug up, but to understand the subject clearly. During our study vacations, we (students) communicate with our teachers via Whatsapp chat group, and clear our doubts,” says Amrithavarshini.

Sidharth Sunil, another student who is also preparing for his board exams said that his inspiration is his mother’s planning and support. “My mother is very helpful in preparing timetables for me, with plenty of breaks in between. Her timetables have proved to be very helpful in the past also. I think we feel a lot of pressure during the pre-exam time, but as long as we have a regular schedule there is nothing to worry about”, says Sidharth Sunil.

Teachers and parents often fail the child by complimenting the successful children and ignoring those who are not so successful. Teachers, in particular, need to embrace them, praise students’ achievements and acknowledge the child’s efforts. Students’ reflection on their accomplishments can be a strong motivator. Encouraging students to create an achievable schedule or study plan would improve their chances for success.

 “Though we give moral support to students, parents have to create a calm and serene atmosphere at home and encourage them with words of inspiration. Parents should seek advice from the experts and experienced teachers to guide their child during pre-exam period. This will create an atmosphere of less stress at home”, says Dr Ravi Warrior, Principal, Quality International School.