We’ve all been there—that nervousness in the stomach, the overthinking, and the constant refreshing of result pages. Whether it’s the UPSC CSE Prelims, the SBI Clerk Mains, or NEET PG 2025, the anxiety right before the results are announced can feel overwhelming.
And the weird part? It’s not even the exam itself that breaks most of us—it’s what comes after. The waiting game, the “what ifs,” and the pressure of what that one result could mean for our future.
Let’s face it—it’s a tough time. You might be struggling to sleep, scrolling endlessly through social media, comparing yourself to others, or replaying everything you did or didn’t write in the exam. It’s normal. And yes, it’s okay to feel this way.
The fear of not being ‘good enough’
The result begins to feel like a verdict—a score that somehow defines your worth, your future, and your identity. You start to wonder—What if I don’t get into my dream college? Will I disappoint my parents? Does this mean I’m not good enough?
We often put so much pressure on ourselves—especially with expectations from family, friends, and society. But let’s pause right there.
Your marks are not a measure of your intelligence, potential, or value as a person. So many people who didn’t top exams have still gone on to live successful, meaningful lives.
So what could students do to cope?
We spoke to Dr. Astik Joshi, Child, Adolescent and Forensic Psychiatrist, New Delhi, who shared some simple ways students could manage result-related anxiety and take care of their mental health:
- Felt their feelings
“It was okay to be upset or nervous,” said Dr. Joshi. “Letting yourself cry, vent, or stay quiet for a while helped. Suppressing emotions often backfired. Allowing yourself to feel was part of the healing process.” - Reframed the result
For those who got a lower score than expected, Dr. Joshi reassured, “That wasn’t failure. Ask yourself: What did I learn? Maybe your prep style needed a tweak. Maybe you learned how you handled pressure. Either way, you grew.” - Didn’t compare
It was tempting to scroll through Instagram and see others posting results or success stories. But each journey was unique. “Comparison bred unnecessary pressure,” Dr. Joshi noted. “Everyone needed to run their own race.” - Talked it out
Bottling things up only added to the pressure. Talking to someone trustworthy—a friend, parent, teacher, or counsellor—helped. “Sharing lifted the weight off their chest. Everyone deserved support,” he said. - Made a plan
If the results didn’t go as hoped, there was no need to panic. It was time to reassess. Maybe someone wanted to retake the exam, or maybe another career path opened up. The result wasn’t the end—it was just one turn on the road.
Why did minds react this way?
Dr. Joshi explained that post-exam anxiety was often triggered by the fear of disappointing oneself or others. While students believed they had control over the outcome, many factors—like mental health during preparation, stress levels, and even luck on exam day—played a role.
“This unpredictability could shake a student’s confidence,” he said. That’s why healthy coping methods—like regular physical activity, mindfulness, and balanced eating—were so important. Unhealthy habits, like binge-eating junk food or endless screen time, only made things worse.
Studies backed this up. A 2022 report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that high performance pressure could lead to chronic anxiety, insomnia, and even depression in students.
For those waiting on results, the message was clear: You were someone who tried, who worked hard, and who still had many chances ahead. This was never the end.
