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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.

I feel tense when I think about exams.

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

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

I fear disappointing others if I score poorly.

I fear disappointing others if I score poorly.

Exams make me anxious days or weeks in advance.

Exams make me anxious days or weeks in advance.

I overthink questions during exams.

I overthink questions during exams.

I worry more about marks than understanding.

I worry more about marks than understanding.

SECTION 2: Parental Expectations

My parents expect high marks from me.

My parents expect high marks from me.

I feel pressure to meet my parents’ expectations.

I feel pressure to meet my parents’ expectations.

I hide my stress or fear from my parents.

I hide my stress or fear from my parents.

I feel compared to other students at home.

I feel compared to other students at home.

I feel supported by my parents even when I fail.

I feel supported by my parents even when I fail.

My parents’ anxiety increases my stress.

My parents’ anxiety increases my stress.

SECTION 3: Teacher & School Pressure

Teachers focus more on results than effort.

Teachers focus more on results than effort.

I am afraid to ask doubts in class.

I am afraid to ask doubts in class.

Fear of being judged affects my performance.

Fear of being judged affects my performance.

I feel rushed to complete syllabus over understanding.

I feel rushed to complete syllabus over understanding.

Teachers’ reactions increase my exam stress.

Teachers’ reactions increase my exam stress.

I feel safe making mistakes while learning.

I feel safe making mistakes while learning.

SECTION 4: Social & Societal Pressure

I worry about what others will say about my results.

I worry about what others will say about my results.

Society judges students mainly by marks.

Society judges students mainly by marks.

Comparisons with others affect my confidence.

Comparisons with others affect my confidence.

I feel my worth is linked to my academic performance.

I feel my worth is linked to my academic performance.

I feel watched or evaluated beyond my family.

I feel watched or evaluated beyond my family.

SECTION 5: Friends, Distractions & Relationship Pressure

Friends distract me when I should be studying.

Friends distract me when I should be studying.

I feel guilty when I take breaks.

I feel guilty when I take breaks.

Relationship issues affect my focus.

Relationship issues affect my focus.

I struggle to say no to friends during exam time.

I struggle to say no to friends during exam time.

I feel pressure to maintain friendships even when stressed.

I feel pressure to maintain friendships even when stressed.

Social media increases my anxiety during exams.

Social media increases my anxiety during exams.

SECTION 6: Physical Health, Mind & Emotional State

I feel physically tired during exam preparation.

I feel physically tired during exam preparation.

My sleep is disturbed during exams.

My sleep is disturbed during exams.

Exercise or movement helps me feel calmer.

Exercise or movement helps me feel calmer.

I experience headaches, stomach issues, or restlessness.

I experience headaches, stomach issues, or restlessness.

A calm mind helps me recall better.

A calm mind helps me recall better.

Stress affects my motivation and confidence.

Stress affects my motivation and confidence.