Board examinations beginning next week; students' stress levels highest during this time, reveals study

In addition to that most students lose their appetite and do not take care of personal hygiene during exams," the study said.

(Image for representational purposes only)

New Delhi: Examination season is a trying time for students across the world. The mounting pressure to score well, the competition and anxiety levels running high, often tend to take a toll on students.

Well, March is here and even though for us, it means that summer is round the bend, but for students, the season is the last thing on their mind.

With board examinations round the corner, a study has revealed that at the moment, the stress levels of students are at its peak.

"A month before the examination only 13 percent of students felt high stress level, which increased to an alarming 82.2 percent with the exams just a week away," the study noted.

According to the study, exam stress can be "dangerous" as it affects students both physically and mentally as they "do not eat properly and not care for hygiene" during exams.

"Examination stress not only affects mind but also causes heart beat variations which is dangerous. In addition to that most students lose their appetite and do not take care of personal hygiene during exams," it said.

The study by YourDost.Com, a Bangalore-based online counselling and emotional wellness platform, attributed examination stress to several reasons including high expectations of parents and bad scores among others.

"While a 16-year-old student was stressed because of the expectations set by her parents, another 17-year-old was stressed due to bad scores in the past," the study found.

Psychologist Sushma Hebbar said it was important for students to "make a timetable" and "stick to a particular type of study method".

"It is important to not make any last minute changes in their way of studying, and stick to a method that has worked for them in the past.

"Making a timetable helps them visualise how they can finish the syllabus in the limited time they have," Hebbar said.

It is also important to "take breaks, eat healthy, stay hydrated and get minimum 6 hours of sleep", she said.

(With PTI inputs)