IN THE SHADOW OF GRADES: COPING WITH EXAM ANXIETY IN SRI LANKA'S COLLEGE CLASSROOMS

The Sri Lankan education system offers a structured pathway of 13 years of general education, segmented into three main stages: primary, secondary, and college-level education. Beginning with primary education (Grades 1–5), students progress to junior secondary (Grades 6–9), followed by senior secondary (Grades 10–11), and conclude with college-level education (Grades 12–13). This progression is marked by several high-stakes examinations that shape students' academic futures and access to advanced educational opportunities. Key among these assessments is the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, a nationwide competitive exam that enables high-achieving students, often from underprivileged backgrounds, to gain entry into better-resourced and more prestigious schools. At the end of senior secondary education, students undertake the General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level (GCE O/L) examination. Success in this exam is crucial, as it determines eligibility for subject stream selection in advanced studies—Arts, Science, Mathematics, or Commerce—and placement in reputed higher secondary institutions. The final academic milestone is the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination, typically taken at the end of college-level education. This exam is particularly significant as it serves as the gateway to Sri Lanka’s government-funded university system. Students who excel at the A/L level are eligible for admission to national universities, often with fully funded tuition, making it a critical determinant of future socioeconomic mobility. This study outlines the structure of Sri Lanka’s education system, emphasizing the importance and implications of these national examinations. It highlights the role of academic meritocracy in educational advancement, the pressures associated with high-stakes testing, and the opportunities these exams offer in promoting educational equity and access to higher education