Exam season is here. You’ll be alright

An exam simply tests your memory, ability to write and to handle pressure. It is not a declaration of whether you pass or fail in life.

In the 2009 Rajkumar Hirani film ‘3 Idiots’, the protagonist Rancho exclaims, “And this is a college, not a pressure cooker!” This quote holds quite the relevance today. The education system and pervasive construct that rewards academic performance often results in students fearing exam seasons. Our educational institutions have created an unhealthy narrative in which one must perform well on exams in order to be successful in life. Exam results are scrutinised and dissected because teachers, family members, and relatives associate exams with career opportunities, a better life, and, sadly, even a person’s worth.