Academic pressure is the tension and discomfort students feel when expectations from school, family, and society become overwhelming. While mild pressure can motivate achievement, excessive pressure often leads to stress and negative emotions. 

Why it happens:

•  Exams are seen as the ultimate measure of ability and future opportunities (scholarships, college admissions). 

Impact:

•  High‑stakes testing fosters anxiety and fear of failure. 

Example: 

• Students may overwork or resort to stimulants (like caffeine) to prepare, leading to burnout.

Why it happens: 

• Adolescents are still developing executive functioning skills, making it harder to prioritize tasks.  

Impact: 

• Procrastination and last‑minute cramming increase stress and reduce performance quality.  

Example:

•  A student who delays studying until the night before an exam experiences panic and exhaustion.

Why it happens: 

• Competitive environments (class rankings, honors lists, university admissions) encourage comparison.  

Impact:

•  Students may feel inferior if peers outperform them, leading to anxiety and isolation.  

Example:

•  Seeing classmates excel can trigger self‑doubt, even when the student is doing well academically.

Why it happens:

•  Cultural emphasis on prestigious schools, scholarships, and career success reinforces the idea that academics define future worth.  

Impact: 

• Students feel trapped in a cycle of “always preparing for the next step.

Example:

•  A student may sacrifice hobbies or social life to focus solely on grades and admissions.

• 27% of teens report feeling burnt out, citing exhaustion from academic and social pressures (Weinstein, E., Konrath, S. Lara, E., Tench, B., James, C., Mann, S., & Lenhart, A., 2024).

• 53% of teenagers feel obligated to be exceptional and impressive individuals, adding to long-term stress and burnout (Weinstein, E., Konrath, S. Lara, E., Tench, B., James, C., Mann, S., & Lenhart, A., 2024).