Dealing with entrance exam pressure: Here's a survival guide for you

Time of India

6 days ago

First attempt myth
Prep burnout
What toppers do differently
Parenting through pressure
Alternate roads
Resilient systems, not routine
You're not alone
SHOULD YOU TAKE A DROP YEAR?
Every year, over 10 lakh aspirants sit for the UPSC Civil Services exam . Over 2.5 lakh candidates try their luck with the CAT, chasing a few thousand seats at the IIMs. More than 2 lakh doctors compete in NEETPG to get into a handful of desirable MD/MS programs. Add to that state PSCs, GATE, CLAT, CUET, RBI Grade B, IBPS/ SBI, SSC, international exams including GRE/ GMAT/TOEFL and the massive funnel of CUET-UG, JEE, NEET-UG, and it becomes clear. India isn't just a nation of exam-takers, but is in the midst of an exam epidemic. You are competing not just with others, but with time, personal circumstances and limits. Here's your survival guide to this pressure cooker.Popular media glorifies that 'first-attempt topper' with stories of those who cleared UPSC at 22 or got into AIIMS right after Class 12. However, behind the scenes, many successful aspirants in exams like NEET-PG , CAT, or GATE, are second- or third-time candidates. They didn't fail; they improved. This cultural obsession with cracking it in 'one clean shot' creates pressure and breeds fear. What's the truth? Persistence matters more than prestige. Equally successful is the candidate who jumps from 94 to 99 percentile in CAT in his second attempt, or one who shifts from a peripheral MD to a prestigious institution in NEET-PG after a drop year. Failure is just another hurdle.Burnout is not a fancy word, but a lived-out reality. Consider GATE aspirants working in jobs, NEET-PG doctor aspirants fresh out of intense internships, or UPSC hopefuls deep into their third year of preparation. You may face chronic fatigue, anxiety, isolation, social comparison and even depression. Watch out for signs of irritability, emotional numbness, fear of falling behind, and an inability to enjoy other experiences. Advanced burnout stages may include social withdrawal and extreme swings between manic work and total shutdown. The first step to recovery is becoming self-aware and acknowledging that burnout isn't a weakness, but a warning. Structure breaks to reconnect with peers. Consider therapy or speak with your mentor. As parents, resist the urge to push when your child needs recovery.Toppers in UPSC, CAT, and GATE rely on time-tested systems. They analyse every mock test, tagging errors and noting improvement areas. They prioritise deep revision over acquiring new material every week. They create repeatable daily schedules and create peer groups for mutual accountability. They build small rituals like early morning walks, art breaks, or journaling to manage stress. One NEET-PG topper handwrote old question papers every weekend to build memory muscle. A UPSC AIR 12 capped study at seven focused hours a day because intensity matters more than duration. CAT toppers often peak by running three timed mocks a week, reviewing each like a professional athlete analyses game footage. The common secret? No panic. Only habits.For parents, the exam season becomes an invisible personal test. Your desire to help often turns into constant monitoring, comparisons with neighbours, worrying about coaching fees or your return on investment. This is counter-productive. Focus on effort, not ranks and scores. Praise consistency and resilience, not perfection. Be concerned about your child's well-being and his schedule. Offer a non-judgmental space where your child can safely vent without fear of conflict. Finally, look for red flags, including change in sleep, mood swings, social withdrawal, or excessive screen use, which could indicate breakdowns. Remind your child that worth is not tied to rank.Every GATE candidate will not get into an IIT, nor will every NEET aspirant become a surgeon. Many will join public sector jobs, build careers in public policy, consulting, or academia after UPSC, GATE or RBI prep. Others will switch to management via CAT after NEET or engineering, or succeed in startups, freelancing, or content creation using the same self-discipline and focus. The transferable skills developed during preparation— grit, research ability and structured thinking—are solid assets for any career. Success in life is never linear and Plan A can evolve into a solid Plan B.Successful candidates may differ in technique, but all have built resilient systems. Think beyond total hours and consider sustainability. Choose to sleep for a minimum of seven hours over all-night study marathons. Study in 90-minute focused periods, followed by a 10-15-minute break. Walk, cycle or stretch for at least 20 minutes each day to reset your brain. Maintain a digital boundary by either switching off devices or using apps like Forest or StayFocusd. Finally, build your identity beyond your exam and recognise that you are not just a 'future IAS officer' or 'future doctor'. Tying your self-image to a test result is dangerous and unnecessary.If you're reading this and nodding in exhaustion, know this—you're not weak. You're part of a system that tests more than academic skills. It tests patience, perspective, and mental strength. You're not alone. Over 35 lakh aspirants across UPSC, NEET, CAT and other exams feel the same fear, the same hope. What matters is how you prepare, not just for the exam, but for life beyond it.Every year, thousands of aspirants wonder whether they should take a drop year and retake the exams. Question yourself: Are you taking a drop year because you know you can do better, or due to peer pressure, societal prestige, or sunk costs? An honest internal reason fuels your motivation across the long prep cycle.Did you fail in your attempt because of less effort or motivation, poor conceptual understanding, time mismanagement, or other distractions? A drop year makes sense only if you know why you failed and how to fix it. Otherwise, it is another 12 months down the drain.Avoid your past strategies. Start with streamlining your material, scheduling mock tests, and planning revision cycles. Add buffer months before the exam dates. Whether you want to move from CAT 92 to 98 percentile or crack UPSC Mains, your planning is everything.A drop year is not free. Can you afford coaching, housing, or living expenses? Are you emotionally prepared to go through another high-pressure cycle? Discuss frankly with family and mentors to gauge their support, both financially and psychologically.Can you create a parallel journey—through freelancing, part-time work, internships, or other certifications? This journey will hold up your confidence, build your CV, and generate future career alternatives. Make your drop year an investment, not a gamble.The writer is a UPSC (NDA) AIR 1, a two-time CAT 100 percentiler and a mentor to competitive exam aspirants.