The Impact of Stress and Resilience on Students Appearing for Competitive Exams for Their Under Graduation in India

This research aims to study the stress and resilience factors on the students preparing for entrance to competitive undergraduate programs in India. High-stakes tests, such as these undergraduate entrance exams, that most often determine access to professional fields like engineering, medicine, and law, pose such high pressure on the minds of students that they begin to have a deteriorating effect on their mental wellbeing and academic performance. This study evaluates the level of perceived stress and resilience in students from different regions using a quantitative approach alongside questionnaires for both stress and resilience. The relationship between the levels of perceived stress and resilience and academic outcomes is examined by two scales: the Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS 10) and Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ). Findings show that students with higher levels of stress tend to perform worse in exams, whereas resilience is a protective factor that helps students cope with stress better. Students who scored relatively higher in resilience reported stronger time management and emotional control capabilities. Such students were able to cope with challenges using an optimistic outlook. All of these are crucial factors informing strategies that are required either at school or from family backgrounds towards maintaining a sound mental position against competition. The study’s implications provide a strong case for institutional support mechanisms and parental support that consider mental well-being while preparing for competitive examinations.