Defining stress:Stress is the body's natural response to a threatening situation, and stress causes the release of hormones such as adrenaline, which prepare the body for its instinctive response to a threat: flight, fight or freeze. Adrenaline causes processes in your body to change, for example, your breathing and heart rate accelerate, your senses sharpen, muscles tighten and blood pressure increases. These changes allow for increased reaction time, which could mean the difference between life and death. However, many people, including students, experience stressful situations every day and this has a negative effect on their health. Factors Causing Exam-Related Stress: One of the major causes of exam-related stress is the pressure on students to excel in academic exams. Pressure can be put on the student by family or friends, as well as by the student himself. The pressure placed on the student by family members is often the result of parents wanting their children to perform better than them, causing the student unnecessary stress. The fear of disappointing family members also causes high levels of stress for the student. Parents have certain expectations of students, such as being accepted into a certain high school or tertiary institution. These expectations may be unrealistic and not based on the student's strengths and weaknesses. These expectations can also create pressure on the student to meet his or her parents' expectations, which creates feelings of inadequacy when they cannot be met. Pressure is also put on the student himself. The student believes that to be a good student, he must always do well in school. If the student wants to achieve a certain...... middle of the paper ......and-depression-in-children/493_4525/causes-of-exam-stress-in-children.html http:/ / brainconnection.positscience.com/tests-stress-problems-for-students/ http://www.kidshelp.com.au/grownups/news-research/hot-topics/exam-stress.php http:// developmentchild .harvard.edu/topics/science_of_early_childhood/tossici_stress_response/ http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/5/8/final-exams-causes-students-have-stress-bad-habits/ http: / /education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/Keeping%20Fit%20for%20Learning/stress.html http://www.15minutes4me.com/article/stress-how-does-stress-tension-affects -teenagers/ http://www.guidetostressmanagement.com/effects-of-stress/effects-of-stress-on-teens.html http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression / Pages/Coping-with-exam-stress.aspx http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/advice/factfile_az/exams_stress