The Night Before the Board Exam

Ishaan, sixteen, in Kota, had been studying fourteen hours a day for months. His parents had sold a plot of land for his coaching fees. A month before the board exams, his marks fell and he began to say that he was a was…

Ishaan, sixteen, in Kota, had been studying fourteen hours a day for months. His parents had sold a plot of land for his coaching fees. A month before the board exams, his marks fell and he began to say that he was a waste. He skipped meals, slept little and stopped speaking to friends.

In the mock test his mind went blank and his hands shook. He told his mother he felt sick and could not breathe. She told him to push through, "just a few more weeks."

His school counsellor noticed the drop in his marks, his absence and his hopeless remarks. She asked about sleep and mood, spoke to his parents about balanced expectations, and arranged a visit with a doctor, who assessed for anxiety and low mood. His parents told him that his worth was not a mark sheet. When he said he sometimes wished he would not wake up, his father stayed with him and called the local emergency service.

Ishaan did sit his exams, with the counsellor's support, a lighter study timetable and sleep restored. The doctor treated his anxiety and low mood, and the family agreed that if the result was disappointing, there were other routes. He told his mother later that hearing "you matter more than marks" was what let him breathe. He walked into the exam hall tired but steady.

How to recognise it

• A sudden fall in marks, absences, withdrawal and big mood changes.

• Blanking out or physical panic during tests.

• Poor sleep, poor appetite and constant tiredness.

• Talk of being a failure or a waste, or of hopelessness.

• Any wish to disappear or to die is an emergency sign.

What this story explains

This story shows that exam stress can help, but exam despair with hopelessness is different and needs early help. A mark sheet is not a diagnosis of a person.

Probable root causes

• Heavy academic pressure and family expectations tied to money or pride.

• Sleep loss and long study hours without rest.

• Anxiety or depression that may already be present.

• Comparison with peers and fear of letting the family down.

What to do

1. Notice the signs early: grades, sleep, mood, hopeless talk.

2. Reduce pressure; reset expectations as a family.

3. Protect sleep, food, movement and breaks.

4. Practise under exam-like conditions and teach a calm breathing routine.

5. Meet a school counsellor and a doctor if anxiety or low mood persists.

6. If there is talk of self-harm or suicide, stay with him and contact the local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital.

Whom to consult

• School counsellor for early support and exam adjustments.

• Family doctor, then a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist if anxiety or low mood continues.

• Teacher or tutor to adjust workload.

• Emergency services or hospital for any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Say: "Your worth is not your result. We love you whatever the marks."

• Ask: "What is the hardest part right now?" and then listen.

• Keep your tone soft; avoid lectures before exams.

• Respond to hopeless words by staying: "I am here. Tell me more."

• Praise effort and rest.