As controversies over exam leaks, result discrepancies, and technical glitches continue to plague major examinations such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Common University Entrance Test (CUET), and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), educators and parents say the uncertainty is adding to an already intense pressure cooker environment for students. Concerns about cut-offs, paper leaks, re-examinations and evaluation errors are now becoming part of the experience, forcing families and teachers to focus as much on students’ emotional well-being as their academic performance.

Rita Nambiar, a private tutor who has taught ICSE and CBSE students for over four decades, says she has witnessed a sharp rise in exam-related anxiety over the years. “Many times, students come and tell me they are stressed,” she says. “They have a fear of not making the cut-off. NEET is very difficult. Children become depressed because of that and the failure from it.”