GSAT Jitters and Fears

As the dates for the GSAT examinations get closer, the level of children's fear and paranoia rise to alarming intensities. Students between the ages of 10 and 12 are grinding the wheels of learning every waking hour and dragging their parents with them, to prove their years of knowledge and its benefits in two days of testing. Just to prove my point, I overheard one pareant threatening certain harm to her child if on the day the exam results are posted, he puts her to shame in front of the other parents. She further went on to advice him that in the event he passes for a 'dunce school', all she would do is get him a machete and rake kit and set him lose to go take care of people’s yards, because according to her he wouldnt even qualify to sell on the streets as it require some level of numeracy skills, which he certainly didnt possess. Which child wouldn’t be scared? I would.


For most at this age, its the most dreaded period of their short life, and for the minority, a time long awaited to prove one’s academic and recall acrobatics to the examiner. Whatever the emotions that run deep in the psyche of the learner, examinations are not to be taken lightly as it is used as the yard stick for success in the exam and often times in life.

I have had the chance of interracting with a number of parents, students and teachers affected by the GSAT anxiety and have compiled a brief of their reasons for its anxiety.
1. Parent’s attitude was identified as one of the greatest contributors to students being pressured during the time of exams. Too often, parents, although not with malice, use their childrens’ lives as a vehicle for their second chance. As a realut, the child feels pressured in not being able to live up to the epectations of the parent/s. A definite cause for anxiety.

2. Most of the teachers content that the volume of work, (athough the curriculum is designed by educational experts and developed as a systematic planning of what is taught and learned in schools as reflected in courses of study and school programs), is way to copious for the specific periods given, and leaves little time for effective learning. Teachers have to be conducting extra classes in order to accommodte the teaching of new content. An additional pressure for students.

3. Insufficient time was also cited as another cause. There is no time allowed for pre-exam revision, as a result, students have the undaunted task of revising on their own without the guided assistance of the teacher who would make corrections, supplement information and share exam psychology with them

4. Students content, the syllabus is irrelevant. I however beg to differ. But since I am not the GSAT student here, my observation doesnt account for much here. Due to this attitude, effective learning is compromised as one of the bases on which students learn is through relevancy. The more relevant it is to the learners’ everyday life or experience, the more effective learning will be, and the converse applies. Inadequate preparation will lead to exam anxiety.


In addition to the above, exam panic is caused by other factors. Some include:
1. Lack of memory or forgetfulness
2. Fear of punishments from parents / teachers
3. Bad past experiences
4. Improper learning i.e. studying not in depth
5. Inattentive / distracted mind
6. Lack of self-confidence / hopelessness / inferiority complex


The simple fear of exam, if left untreated, may develope into a more serious condition and lead to paranoia. When this happens it now becomes a medical problem, such as nervous breakdowns, constipation, diarhoea, excessive sweating.

You can minimize or prevent exam anxiety by being aware of its symptoms. Some common symptoms parents and teachers can look for are:
1. Feeling blank or vagueness before exam
2. Difficulty in concentrating and studying while preparing for exams
3. Fear to appear for exams
4. Getting tensed on seeing difficult questions
5. Difficulty in expressing / presentation even for known answers due to fear or inferiority complex
6. Confusion and hopelessness
7. Sweating and racing heart
8. Tension and worries
9. Prevention and management – Learning, keeping it in memory,
10. Lack of interest in lesson

Extreme exam fear often leads to failure. This may further cause lack of interest and loss of self-esteem. Criticism and bad parenting are the main causes for exam fear which further causes depression , anxiety, tension, etc. Sometimes it even pushes one to commit suicide. Fearful/dejected students commit suicide because they were unable to perform well in a test/exam or difficulty in facing their parents, teachers or even themselves after that.

In light of all the preceeding, it is incumbent on all the stakeholders in education, to ensure this GSAT Exam and others exams are appriached with confidence. Confidence stems from adequate preparedness. Each of us has a role to play in reducing or eliminating Exam Anxiety.


source:
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=K8LSwqxbd6GjjrWDyGp9DxpX8ndHS1MJ0q08dyWT72LpN39RJ6XP!657620650!-1226680035?docId=5000370163
Dr S Chidambaranathan,Homeopathic Consultant. Website: www.drcheena.com
http://www.aboutourkids.org/files/articles/test_anxiety_E.pdf