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Student Exam Stress & Pressure Assessment (SESPA™)

Purpose

This assessment helps students understand where their stress comes from, how it affects their mind and body, and which pressures are helping vs harming performance.
This is not a mental health diagnosis.
It measures stress patterns, not weakness.

Name

Email

Phone Number

Aadhar Number

Instructions

36 statements
Answer honestly based on daily classroom behaviour, not ideals
Scale:
1 -> Strongly Disagree 2 -> Disagree 3 -> Neutral / Sometimes 4 -> Agree 5 -> Strongly Agree

SECTION 1: Exam & Performance Stress

I feel tense when I think about exams.

My mind goes blank during tests even when I’ve studied

I fear disappointing others if I score poorly.

Exams make me anxious days or weeks in advance.

I overthink questions during exams.

I worry more about marks than understanding.

SECTION 2: Parental Expectations

My parents expect high marks from me.

I feel pressure to meet my parents’ expectations.

I hide my stress or fear from my parents.

I feel compared to other students at home.

I feel supported by my parents even when I fail.

My parents’ anxiety increases my stress.

SECTION 3: Teacher & School Pressure

Teachers focus more on results than effort.

I am afraid to ask doubts in class.

Fear of being judged affects my performance.

I feel rushed to complete syllabus over understanding.

Teachers’ reactions increase my exam stress.

I feel safe making mistakes while learning.

SECTION 4: Social & Societal Pressure

I worry about what others will say about my results.

Society judges students mainly by marks.

Comparisons with others affect my confidence.

I feel my worth is linked to my academic performance.

I feel watched or evaluated beyond my family.

SECTION 5: Friends, Distractions & Relationship Pressure

Friends distract me when I should be studying.

I feel guilty when I take breaks.

Relationship issues affect my focus.

I struggle to say no to friends during exam time.

I feel pressure to maintain friendships even when stressed.

Social media increases my anxiety during exams.

SECTION 6: Physical Health, Mind & Emotional State

I feel physically tired during exam preparation.

My sleep is disturbed during exams.

Exercise or movement helps me feel calmer.

I experience headaches, stomach issues, or restlessness.

A calm mind helps me recall better.

Stress affects my motivation and confidence.