JOIN our WhatsApp groupDownload now Form Four Pre-Necta Examination 2024 Kibaki Joint Kinondoni Mc, Kibaha Tc and Bagamoyo
EXAM STRESS
A little stress around exam time can be a good thing, as it motivates you to put in the work. But sometimes stress levels can get out of hand, particularly at the end of an academic year.
When you become stressed, the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system gets switched on. Initially this is a good thing, because it is the activation of this system that releases the neurochemical adrenaline – and this stimulates you to get going and focus on your work. But the problem starts when periods of stress become prolonged.
When this happens, the sympathetic branch stays permanently on, pouring adrenaline into the body and keeping you on high alert. This causes you to worry more, experience anxiety and depression, lose sleep, become forgetful, irritable, overwhelmed, exhausted and feel out of control. This can really impact on your ability to prepare for your assignments and exams, as well as negatively affect your levels of performance and sense of well-being.
What does exam stress feel like?
Symptoms of exam stress may include:
- losing touch with friends and the activities you enjoy
- feeling moody, low or overwhelmed
- having trouble making decisions
- losing your appetite or over eating
- sleeping poorly and struggling to get out of bed
- difficulty getting motivated to start studying
- tense muscles or headaches
Advantages of Exams
- Self Analysis of One’s Own Abilities: With examinations, a person is able to know his level of Performance and Knowledge.
- Tool for Learning and Working: Examination provides encouragement to people for Learning and Working.
- Spirit of Competition: Examinations also create a sense of Competition which pushes the limit of a person’s ability to do more and to do best.
- Development of Personality and Confidence: Spirit of Competition and Realisation of Self -Analysis leads to the development of one’s Personality and Confidence.
- Scholarships and Awards: Good Performance in Examinations brings Scholarships and Awards
- Good Future: Good Grades translate into better Job Placement and remuneration
- Examination Anxiety is Good: Anxiety due to examinations is good. It is a necessary part of life. The occurrence of Examinations prepares students to get used to the pressures of examinations, their mentality becomes much stronger. And when they go out to work, they are able to withstand the pressures of their career, instead of crumbling under the huge amount of stress
- Single Examination-Multiple Students: One can judge the progress of many students at once by holding a single Examination for all.
- Easy Detection of Teaching Flaws: Examinations also measure a Teachers skills and flaws and if any subject should be re-taught or explained differently.
Disadvantages of Exams
- Source of Stress and Pressure: Some people are burdened with stress with the onset of Examinations. The Stress of Performance creates Pressure for many.
- Health Problems: Examinations also lead to various health problems like Headaches, Nausea, Loose Motions, V omitting etc.
- Loss of Confidence: Failure in Exams leads to loss of confidence for many.
- The tendency of Suicide: Failure in Examinations harborss Low Self Esteem which induces Tendency Of Suicide.
- Breaking of Companionship: Competitive traits during Examinations sometimes leads to Peer Problems like ruined friendships, bonds etc.
- Exams are a Formality: Students are unable to identify the real purpose of Examinations. For them passing their examinations is a formality for entering into good schools. Therefore they all are all learning just for the sake of a formality.
- Pressure Creates Disinterest in Studies: Exhaustion, stress and other problems related to examinations create fear and hatred which in turn leads to loss of interest and faith in studies.
- Examinations are not the Real Test: Examinations measure relatively superficial knowledge or learning which totally defeats the purpose of Examinations. A person with lees grades may turn out to be a successful person while a good grader may end up unsuccessful in life. Some students do not score well even if they know the material, poor reading skills can handicap a student, questions on examination might not test progress as well as they could.