Board Exams: Not one man's game

Medusa's Here! The cry that becomes so prominent at this time of the year. She is often been visualized as a monster that turns people to stone. However, Medusa seems to mix it up a bit as time has taken its due course. Nowadays, she comes in the form of the Class 10 and 12 CBSE board examinations which not only turns the examinees to stone but also the people associated with them such as teachers and parents.

In 2018, over 28 lakh students appeared for the All India Senior Secondary Examinations (AISSE). These exams were conducted in 4,453 centres across India and 78 centres outside India. Similarly, for Class 12, the exam is being held at 4,138 centres in India and 71 centres abroad.

The 2019 edition of the examinations commences in almost three weeks time and it is not only the students who are running ragged. Tensions are high and so are the stakes. But, it no way means that the enormous pressure these exams put cannot be managed.

Meeta Arora, a tutor in the humanities stream and a former teacher in a school, says that the stress of a tutor and a teacher is the same. But, she does goes on to say: "There is a performance issue for the teacher also. The parents are worried about the only child whereas the teacher is worried about all the students."

She was upbeat about the fact that her students work hard and advises kids to meditate a lot as it relaxes oneself. "The parents are changing. They understand that if the student hasn't taken Science (stream), it's okay. If the students have taken humanities, the job opportunities are there", she observes. She adds that parents have become more involved in the exam such as, ensuring children eat right during the exam season, making study time-tables, etc.

A common notion always does the rounds that the more hours one studies for, the higher one would score. "I don't believe in that from the very beginning. It is not the number of hours, but the quality of study you do", she opines. She further says that it is important to study smart rather than just opening the book. She advises students to relax and stay calm adding that stress can make one go blank and one can do blunders in the exam. "Practise your speed because that is one thing I have seen students face. Time management is key", she adds.

When Krishna, a student in Class 12, pursuing humanities was asked about the stress he is under, he said, "Talking about the stress, yes I have it, I have it a lot! It isn't that I'm scared about the boards. But, this is the opportunity that I have."

He further adds, "I'm nervous! Even though I have given the boards Class 10 so yeah that could work as a booster for me. Now, with the Class 12 boards, I have a bit more pressure from my family's side too as they want me to get what I want from life." He advises his fellow examinees that it is important to have fun in one's daily schedule but in limited quantity.

Neelu, a mother herself,  believes that a parent and child are under the same pressure and stress as there is a fear of the child's failure and ability to cope with peer pressure. "As a parent, I change my routine and schedule to provide emotional support to my child", she says. She further adds that the home environment is tense and all the outings and gadget use come to a stop.

Board exams definitely do create tension in the air irrespective of whether one is a parent, teacher or a student. The jitters are felt, as it is a battle of the mind. However, the tension can be combated if people give the right advice.