The anxious days after the exam
The exams ended several days ago, but every morning, the first thing Le Vi Ha My, a 9th-grade student at Dong Hoi Secondary School in Dong Anh commune, does is check her phone for any new information about exam scores or predictions of cut-off scores.
"After the exam, I felt much more relieved, but the closer it got to the results announcement, the more worried I became. I didn't do as well as I hoped in Math, so I frequently checked the answers online and recalculated my score. Some days I calculated it several times, but each time I got a different result, which made me even more anxious," Ha My shared.
Ha My isn't alone; many ninth-grade students are experiencing similar feelings. On Hanoi student forums, topics like "predicting cutoff scores," "estimating exam scores," and "chance of getting into your first-choice university" consistently attract thousands of comments daily.
After months of intense studying, it seemed like the end of the exams would be the time for students to completely relax. However, with the final results still pending, many students enter another "psychological exam" called waiting.
In conversations among many ninth-grade students, the most frequently asked question is no longer whether the exam was difficult or easy, but rather, "How many points do you hope to get?", "Will the cut-off score increase this year?". The anticipation causes many students to constantly recall their answers, regret the questions they didn't complete, and make countless assumptions about the upcoming results.
However, some students chose a more relaxed approach. Nguyen Minh Quan, a 9th-grade student at Xuan Dinh Secondary School (Xuan Dinh Ward), said that after checking the answers and estimating the result, he proactively put aside concerns about grades to enjoy his summer vacation.
"I think I did my best in the exam. Now, whatever the result is, it can't be changed anymore, so I want to rest, learn to swim, play sports , and prepare for my next plans," Minh Quân said.
Not only students, but many parents are also feeling equally anxious. Mr. Le Xuan Hiep, Ha My's father, said that although he always encourages his daughter to stay relaxed, he himself regularly follows information related to the entrance exam.
"My child has worked very hard throughout the school year, so the family just hopes the results reflect their efforts. Although we don't put pressure on them, honestly, I still regularly check the score distribution and predicted cut-off scores to prepare," Mr. Hiep shared.
Many families say the pressure comes not only from passing or failing the exam, but also from planning for the next stage of the student's education. If the results are not as expected, questions like where to study, which school to choose, and whether the family's financial situation is suitable are all agonizing concerns for parents.
Some parents try to hide their anxiety to reassure their children. But in many families, even though the exams are over, the feeling of stress hasn't truly subsided.
Waiting is also a lesson in maturity.
According to Ms. Hoang Thi Hai Yen, the head teacher in charge of the Youth Union at Ngo Quyen Secondary School (Dong Anh commune), most students felt relieved after completing an important stage, but many still felt pressure while waiting for their exam results and admission scores.
"Some students frequently compare answers, predict scores, or compare themselves with friends, which can easily lead to emotional instability. The biggest pressure right now is the worry about getting into their desired school, along with family expectations and the competition in the admissions process," commented Ms. Hai Yen.
According to Associate Professor Hoang Trung Hoc, Head of the Psychology and Education Department at the Academy of Educational Management, it is completely common for students to remain stressed after the exams are over.
For ninth-grade students, the entrance exam to tenth grade is not just a test of knowledge, but also a crucial transitional milestone. The exam results are linked to a new learning environment, family expectations, and how the students perceive their own abilities.
"After the exam, the pressure doesn't disappear; it shifts from the pressure of taking the exam to the pressure of waiting for the results. Many students are both eager to get their scores quickly and afraid that the results won't meet their expectations," Associate Professor Hoang Trung Hoc analyzed.
According to experts, constantly checking answers or following predictions of cutoff scores on social media can sometimes plunge students into a spiral of anxiety. Before the official results are released, all calculations are just assumptions and cannot change the completed exam.
What's needed now is to give yourself time to rest after a long period of studying; participate in sports, read books, meet friends, or experience enriching summer activities instead of just focusing on waiting.
Teachers also believe this is an opportunity for students to learn how to face the unknown in life. The exam is important, but it is not the ultimate goal. Regardless of the outcome, students still have many opportunities to learn and grow ahead.
The days leading up to the exam results announcement may still be filled with anxiety. But after all, it's also a rare moment of calm for ninth-grade students to reflect on their journey, enjoy their first summer after months of intense studying, and prepare themselves for a new chapter ahead.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/cuoc-doi-cho-nhieu-cam-xuc-sau-phong-thi-1208003.html
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