The pressure of competitive exams has taken a serious toll on students across the country, and Guwahati is no exception. Every year, thousands of students from Assam's capital city prepare for high-stakes exams like the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), and state-level competitive exams like the Assam Direct Recruitment Exam (ADRE). The stress and anxiety associated with these exams are mounting, leading to consequences, including a rise in student suicides.
Earlier in June 2024, an 18-year-old girl from Guwahati ended her life a day after the results of the NEET exam were announced. Her death was the 11th suicide linked to competitive exam stress across the nation this year. In 2023, 26 students in India, many from the infamous 'cram schools' designed to prepare students for such exams, died by suicide.
This pattern shows the immense pressure that students in Guwahati, like those across India, face when preparing for competitive exams that are seen as gateways to prestigious careers in medicine, engineering, and government services.
Students in Guwahati, like in other major cities, flock to private coaching centres to prepare for competitive exams. These centres, often referred to as ‘cram schools,’ offer intensive courses that cover the vast syllabus required for exams like NEET, JEE, and ADRE. However, the pressure to succeed is immense, and the fear of failure looms large over these young minds.
Talking to GPlus, Kankan Sarmah, a renowned psychologist based in Guwahati said, “Many candidates do not fully understand the nuances of the exams they are preparing for. When they register, they don’t always check the eligibility criteria or syllabus properly. This leads to confusion, and if they are not well-prepared, they start to feel stressed. The exams test knowledge from the lower primary level all the way to the graduate level, depending on the criteria, and students often lack the fundamental knowledge needed to excel.”
Sarmah added, "Students buy guidebooks and cram for the exams without fully understanding the subjects. The pressure to memorise and perform well in a limited timeframe is overwhelming. But it’s not just about memorising facts—students need to be aware of current events, general knowledge, and how to apply their learning in real-world situations."
Sarmah added, “The problem is that students often pin all their hopes on one exam. If they fail, they feel like their future is ruined. This leads to anxiety, depression, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. What students need to understand is that competitive exams are not the only path to success. Failure in one exam does not mean failure in life.”
He urged students and their families to explore alternative career options and not to put all their eggs in one basket. "If students rely on a single exam to determine their future, they set themselves up for unnecessary stress. It's important to have backup plans and explore other opportunities. This is not the end, and there are many other ways to achieve success."
Sarmah also emphasised the need for parents to be more involved in their children’s mental health. "Parents must realise that academic success is not the only thing that matters. They need to support their children emotionally and encourage them to explore different career paths. Failure in an exam should not be seen as a disaster, but rather as a learning experience."
The city of Guwahati is home to a large number of students who aspire to crack national and state-level competitive exams. The pressure to perform is high, and the competition is fierce. However, there are solutions that can help alleviate some of this pressure.
Sarmah also suggested that students adopt a more holistic approach to exam preparation. “It is not enough to just memorise the syllabus. Students need to be aware of current affairs, general knowledge, and how their academic knowledge applies to the real world. They need to do smart work, not just hard work.”
For students in Guwahati, it’s important to remember that failure in one exam is not the end of the road. As Kankan Sarmah rightly pointed out, “This is not the end.” Students must understand that success comes in many forms, and there are numerous paths to achieving their goals. With the right support from parents, teachers, and society, Guwahati’s youth can overcome the stress of competitive exams and find success on their own terms.
