September, which is the month of Term testing in many schools, sees an increase in the number of students visiting the staff room ‘on purpose’. The situation is always different throughout the year. As a teacher, I have seen in the eyes of these students, who often visit the staff room, something that worries me the most - ‘Exam phobia,’ popularly known as ‘Exam Fever’. How many of us are familiar with these words? I believe, almost all of us. Technically, that’s the feeling of panic, which most of us experienced during school and college days. Even now, when a student comes up to me and asks me about his or her doubts before the exam, I see 'testophobia' and the accompanying panic - 'what if?'
Why
do students panic before the exam?
It is a very common situation among many students when it comes
to writing exams. It can affect students and create a barrier to their
intellectual, moral, emotional, social and cognitive development. However, none
of the parents are aware of this fear of the test and consider it a common
truth. History shows that even prominent scholars such as Einstein and
Churchill also suffered from so-called ‘experimental phobia’. Therefore, it has
become a universal fact that students should always be nervous before the exam.
Are we really talking about the concept?
Psychologists and behavioral counselors are of the opinion that
students tend to panic before the exam as they are under a lot of pressure to
do well and get better grades than their peers. Lack of preparation also adds
to the fear. The negative thought of ‘what if I fail to do it’ in the mind of
an ignorant person always haunts his constructive thought. The so-called ‘what
if’ does not allow the child to think freely and dare to view the test as “just
a check of knowledge” and not to take it as a parameter for success. The
students plunge into the abyss of fear and panic and disaster strikes. Schools
may be high or low but how do they confirm the fear of someone who has already
done it? Why does each student need to get high marks? Why do we force our
children to get high marks in every subject they learn?
What
can you do as a teacher?
The class teacher should consider creating an environment that
gives students the freedom to taste great success even after many failures. The
encouragement from the counselor and the assurance of the fact that one can or
may not succeed in the first attempt has the potential to increase and enhance
student confidence. As a teacher I always commend and delight my students even
if they have shown little effort while trying. I believe that real motivation
can increase students' strengths and bring out the best in them. In my class I
always insisted that children should not be compared to their peers. This can
dampen their enthusiasm and interest in learning and make them nervous, shy,
and intrusive. They easily get into the deepest thoughts of being a failure. I
also insist on inclusive teaching in the classroom. As a teacher it is
important to create separate worksheets and plan lessons in such a way that all
learners, from the weakest to the strongest, benefit. Students should be given
the freedom to fail, to test and to learn.
The
role of true guide
Love, affection, reassurance and empathy have the power to solve
students ’fears of testing. As counselors, parents and guides, when we reassure
our children that whatever the point, we are always there to stand by them,
always holding their hands and showing them the right way, their disagreements
and concerns are greatly reduced. Students who aspire to be artists do not have
to earn high marks in science. A writer does not have to score well in
mathematics or a dancer does not have to know what geography is. Each child is
different. Each has his own way and speed of learning and is able to succeed in
his own way. Let's reassure our children that they have the freedom to fail -
because 'failure is the key to success'. Your grades do not measure your
intelligence and strength. You are far from what your outcome means. A true
guide and mentor is always encouraging. She is one who can elevate a child's
character, inspire him or her with his or her true potential and guide him or
her through his or her dedication.
How
can you overcome Exam phobia?
In addition to words
of sympathy and reassurance, counselors and parents should also suggest ways to
overcome the so-called ‘experimental phobia’. One needs to prepare and study
well before the test; familiarize yourself with past papers; seek help whenever
he or she cannot understand the subject; and most important, believe in
himself. Remember, "Sometimes the smartest and most intelligent minds
don't shine in the right tests because they don't have common sense."
Er.
Deepak Sharma
Department
of Mechanical Engineering
Geeta
Engineering College
1 Comments
nice
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