FEAR OF EXAMINATION

DON BOSCO SENIOR

SECONDARY SCHOOL
ENGLISH PROJECT

2022-2023

NAME: RITU ANIL

CLASS: XII-HUMANITIES-A
SUBJECT: ENGLISH
TOPIC: FEAR OF EXAMINATION
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special gratitude to

my Teacher, Mrs Lisa Dominic, for her guidance
and advice in completing my work successfully.
Sincere thanks to my Principal, Mrs Sangita
Bhattacharya for the golden opportunity to do
this project. I would also like to thank my
parents and friends who supported me in
finalizing this project within the limited time
frame.

NAME: RITU ANIL

CLASS: XII-HUMANITIES-A
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr. no Topics
1. Objectives
2. Planning report
3. Project report
4. Abstract
5. Introduction
6. Research methodology
7. Results
8. Reflection and material evidence
9. Conclusion and recommendations
1o. References and bibliography
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Objectives
This study deals with the pressure on teenagers to perform
well in examinations. This survey assesses students from
classes 9 to 12, they were asked to answer questions
related to their routine during examinations and how it
impacted mental welfare.

This survey aims to assess how the students cope with the
following:-

1. Point of view of students on exams

2. Studying consistency and time management
3. Mental barriers caused by social media, mood swings
& anxiety
4. Impact of online schooling
5. Mental stability regarding support from parents and
teachers
6. Directing pressure positively to achieve successful
learning
7. Dealing with pressure
8. Promoting self-study and routine practice/revision
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STUDENT PLANNING SHEET

Class: XII A HUMANITIES
GROUP NO: 4

Topic Examination fear

Table 1: Outline Of Project

1. RITU
2. ISHA
Who? 3. NARAYANI
4. NIHIRA
5. SAMRUDDHI

Studying the impact of exam pressure on

What?
teenagers

In our neighbourhood (Don Bosco Senior

where?
Seconday School)

20th October to 25th November,2022 Group

when?
meeting was held on 20th November 2022

We want to understand how teenagers have

why? been dealing with pressure during exams and
how has it affected their mental well-being.
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Created a survey system using Google Forms to

prepare a questionnaire that is to be answered
how?
by students from classes 9-12, this would help
us learn the causes and effects of exam fear.

Table 2: tasks that need to be done

Tasks Team member Time

Coordinate the
group members Nihira 4-6 hours

Framed the
questions for Ritu 4-6 hours
questionnaire

prepared the
survey Narayani 4-6 hours

Collected
material for Isha 4-6 hours
survey

Drawing
conclusion of Samruddhi 4-6 hours
survey
—
Ruchitha 4-6 hours
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Group meetings dates: 20th November 2022

Project report

Abstract

1. NIHIRA
2. ISHA
Who? 3. RITU
4. NARAYANI
5. SAMRUDDHI

Studying the impact of exam pressure on

What?
teenagers

where? In our neighbourhood

20th October to 25th November,2022 Group

when?
meeting was held on 20th November, 2022
We want to understand how teenagers have
why? been dealing with pressure during exams and
how has it affected their mental well-being.
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Created a survey system using Google Forms to

prepare a questionnaire that is to be answered
how?
by students from classes 9-12, this would help
us learn the causes and effects of exam fear.

Introduction
Examination anxiety is a fairly common phenomenon that
involves feelings of tension or uneasiness that occur before,
during, or after an examination. Many people experience
feelings of anxiety around examinations and find it helpful
in some ways, as it can be motivating and create the
pressure that is needed to stay focused on one’s
performance.

What Causes Exam Fear?

Exam fear is caused due to many reasons, such as

● Fear of faring badly in exams

● Fear of letting down parents and teachers

● Fear of certain subjects that are considered difficult

● Inability to remember or concentrate while studying

● Giving importance to grades and using those as an

impression of self-esteem

● Negative self-talk before and during exams

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● Setting a high bar for oneself

● Comparing oneself to others

Research Methodology
DON BOSCO SENIOR SECONDARY SECTION STUDENTS
and neighbourhood friends & relatives between the age
of 13- 18 were selected to conduct the survey on “fear
of exams on teenagers” and how they deal with it.
Around 30 students were selected to answer a special
questionnaire prepared for the survey. A questionnaire
was developed to copy the data, it included various
varieties of questions that helped find out the effect of
exams on students.

The questions included were:

1. Does examination pressure affect your sleep schedule
or sleeping habits? (Yes or no)
2. Do you get panic attacks due to examination stress?
3. Does stress caused by examination pressure affect you
physically? (Yes or no)
4. What is the one thing you think you can improve your
habit in so that you don’t get extremely stressed
before exams?
5. Do you think your exam stress is a cause of your bad
management of time?
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6. Is the fear of examination faced by you caused by

internal pressure yourself or due to peers, parents, or
society?
7. How well do you think you cope with the stress you
experience?
a. very well
b. moderately well
c. not well
8. On a scale from 1-10 how well do you pay attention in
class, understand the teacher and how often do you
submit your assignments
9. What are the common psychological effects of
pressure you’ve noticed?
a. Feeling little or no control over the exam situation
b. Negative thinking and self-criticism
c. Irrational thinking about exams and outcomes
d. All of the above
10. on a scale of 1-10, how much examination fear do
you have?
11. Why do you have fear of examinations?
a. fear of not being able to complete the paper.
b. fear of scoring low
c. not being prepared enough
d. not obtaining your expected marks
12. Is the stress of studying more than the fear of
examinations?
a. A) the stress of studying is more
b. B) the fear of examination is more
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13. What helps you to deal with your examination fear?

14. What do you think about the Indian Education
system?
15. Do you think practical education will help you more
in the future?
a. No
b. Yes

Results
It is evident from the data given in the tables that
around 39% of students get moderate panic attacks,
31.4% are so stressed that it affects them, physically,
35.6% of students are unprepared, 55.1% feel the
pressure of studying is more, 49.2% suffer from bad
management of time, 80.5% students feel sleep
deprived due to exam pressure/fear. Although, too much
pressure is not a good thing and a little bit of persuasion
can be a good thing as it motivates the students to
knuckle down and work hard. Exams can make our
stress alarms go off, which can stop students from
performing their best. Hence, it is imperative to address
it and get it back under control. In most cases, exam fear
Is caused amongst students due to low motivation
levels, lack of preparation and planning, high
expectations from parents, and competition from peers.
Even when I was a kid, I skipped my worst subject paper
mathematics by pretending to be unwell. But today I
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regret that decision. I wish I have mustered p the

courage to at least take the exam, irrespective of its
result. High stress can interfere with the student’s
preparation, concentration, and performance.
Examination stress can cause test anxiety which
adversely affects test performance. Persons who are
high in test anxiety tend to perceive evaluative
situations as personally threatening; in test situations,
they are often tense, apprehensive, nervous, and
emotionally aroused. It is possible to hypothesize that
exam fear of teenagers can lead to severe
mental/physical breakdowns among students. In
contrast to earlier findings, however, no evidence of
initiative by the side of the students was detected. This
results in the cause of lack of motivation amongst
students.

Conclusion
Examination anxiety is a fairly common phenomenon that
involves feelings of tension or uneasiness that occur before,
during, or after an examination. Fear of examination occurs
due to a lack of preparation and low confidence in one’s
capabilities. Practice positive self-talk whenever you feel
anxiety creeping up your spine. Meditate for 10-15 minutes
every day to calm your mind and improve your
concentration.
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Examination nerves, worry, or fear of failure are normal for

even the most talented student. However, the stress of
formal examination results in such high degrees of anxiety
in some students that they are unable to perform at a level
that matches the potential they have shown in less
stressful classroom situations. While preparing for
examinations, one must spend enough time for study,
overviewing, and weighing one’s strengths and
weaknesses, discussing difficulties with teachers and
classmates, planning a revision timetable, condensing
notes, spacing out revision periods, and most importantly
on the examination day concentrate on staying calm.

Always remember that scoring low marks or failing an

exam is not the end of the world. So it is rightly said, “try
again, fail again, fail better”.
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