Students say exam pressure is becoming unbearable, blaming it on overloaded revision schedules, public shaming over marks, inadequate counselling, and poor study guidance.
They urge schools to adopt humane academic practices and protect mental health.
During exam season, teachers often rush to complete syllabi, packing 12 hours of non-stop coaching into a single day. By 4pm, your brain is completely fried.
Schools should introduce light revision schedules during mock and final exam weeks, with mandatory breaks.
Dedicating even 30 minutes every Friday to stress-relief activities-like class sports, music, or guided peer talks-would help us recharge and stay focused.
Ivan Kizito, S4, Mengo Senior School
A lot of our anxiety comes directly from how results are communicated. When teachers read out mock marks publicly or warn us about failing Uneb every morning, it creates panic instead of motivation.
Schools need to train staff to give one-on-one constructive feedback. When a teacher sits down with you privately to explain where you missed marks and how to correct them, it builds confidence instead of fear.’
Sarah Akwero, S6, Mengo Senior School
The biggest cause of stress is not knowing how to revise effectively. Many students cram endlessly because they don’t understand Uneb question framing or marking schemes.
Schools should hold practical exam-technique workshops early in the term. Providing past papers alongside clear examiner marking guides gives us a roadmap, taking away the guesswork and fear of the unknown.
Prossy Nalubega, S4, Mengo Senior School
Exam stress doesn’t start and end at school-it follows us home. Parents often demand Aggregate 8 or 20 points without realising how tough the competition is.
Schools should invite parents to pre-exam orientation meetings to sensitize them on how to support their children emotionally rather than piling on unbearable pressure.
Amina Hussein, S4, Kololo Senior Secondary School
In many day and boarding schools, night preps run too late into the night, leaving students with barely four hours of sleep. A tired brain cannot perform well in an exam room.
School administrators should enforce strict sleep schedules during exam periods and ensure students get proper, nutritious meals to keep their energy and concentration levels high.
Daniel Ochen, S4, Kololo SSS
Examinations should be made normal to students by giving out more small tests/assignments along the way before the final examinations.
Rachael Ahimbisibwe, S5 Mbarara High School
Teachers should actually teach us how to revise, not just say ‘go revise’. Half of us don’t even know how to study properly, we just panic and reread the textbook’. A proper session on revision techniques would help.
Christopher Gumisiriza, S3 St. John’s Rutsya Secondary School
It is honestly stressful when teachers pile on more work right before exams. Some free periods or light days closer to exams would help way more.They should at least give us a chill period before exams, not extra homework.
Rebecca Natumanya, S2 Kaberebere COU Secondary School
Examinations shouldn’t all be put in the same week. Like, why do I have Mathematics, Chemistry and History finals back to back?
A day gap should be given for proper revision instead of cramming everything at once.
Maurice Ainamani, S5 St. John’s Rutsya Secondary School
Let us talk to someone if we’re stressed, without it being a whole thing.
A counsellor or even just a teacher we trust can do better, without everyone finding out or it going on some record. Sometimes we just need to vent before we explode.
Elijah Ddumba, S6 Mbarara High School
Reading out marks or ranking students after examinations in class makes it worse. Some of them are already anxious enough without being compared to everyone else out loud.They should approach a student at a time to advise where to do better and not publish their failures.
Esther Nakibuule, S3 Kaberebere COU Secondary School
Schools should be giving us continuous tests to get us used to exams, so that by the time exams come, everything is normal to us’
Agatha Nantale, S5, Bishop Cyprian Kihangire SSS, Luzira.
They should give students sample papers and corrections all the time.
Slavia Okumu, S5, St John SSS. Bweyogerere.
Schools should be giving us at least one resting day in between the exams, not back-to-back exams
Joyce Babirye, S4, Brothers of the Sacred Heart Project Uplift Mutungo Biina
Schools should 1st understand how each of us is treated at home, before giving us exams. Some students do a lot of chores at home and barely have time to read, which brings exam pressure, hence stressing us.
Brian Ayesiga, S2, Luzira SSS.
Schools should help us get used to papers through regular assignments to help ease the pressure that comes with exams