The recent NEET UG re exam and paper leak drama have affected students

Here is a 25-item study proforma designed to assess the psychological impact of the NEET UG paper leak controversy and re-examination on affected students. The questions cover stress, trust, coping, academic identity, and future orientation — all key domains for a rigorous research study.

Study Proforma: Psychological Impact of the NEET UG Paper Leak & Re-Examination on Students

Study Title: Psychological Consequences of Examination Malpractice and Systemic Uncertainty: A Survey of NEET UG Aspirants

Instructions to Participants: This questionnaire is part of an academic research study. There are no right or wrong answers. Please respond honestly based on your personal experience. All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Likert Scale (where applicable): 1 = Strongly Disagree | 2 = Disagree | 3 = Neutral | 4 = Agree | 5 = Strongly Agree

Section A: Demographic & Background Information

Q4. Were you among the candidates who appeared for the re-examination conducted after the paper leak controversy?

Section B: Perceived Stress & Anxiety

Q5. Since learning about the NEET UG paper leak, I have experienced a noticeable increase in stress levels. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q6. The uncertainty about examination results and re-examination scheduling has caused me significant anxiety. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q7. I have experienced physical symptoms of stress (e.g., headaches, sleep disturbance, appetite changes, fatigue) following the controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q8. How would you rate your overall stress level since the NEET UG paper leak became public?

Section C: Emotional & Psychological Impact

Q9. I feel a strong sense of injustice and betrayal due to the NEET UG paper leak. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q10. I have experienced feelings of helplessness or loss of control over my academic future because of this controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q11. The paper leak controversy has made me feel that my hard work and merit are not being adequately valued. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q12. I have experienced symptoms of depression (persistent sadness, loss of interest, hopelessness) following the controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q13. Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or had feelings that life is not worth living since the controversy began?

Section D: Trust in Institutions & Examination Systems

Q14. I trust the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct fair and transparent examinations in the future. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q15. I believe the government and judiciary have responded adequately to address the paper leak issue. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q16. The NEET UG controversy has reduced my confidence in the Indian public examination system as a whole. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q17. I feel that students from economically privileged backgrounds benefited more from the paper leak than others. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Section E: Academic Motivation & Identity

Q18. My motivation to continue preparing for a medical career has decreased since the controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q19. The controversy has caused me to seriously reconsider my decision to pursue medicine as a career. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q20. My academic self-confidence (belief in my ability to perform well) has been negatively affected by the controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Section F: Social & Family Impact

Q21. I feel increased pressure from family members due to the uncertainty created by the NEET UG controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q22. The controversy has negatively affected my relationships with peers, friends, or family members. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Q23. I feel socially isolated or misunderstood in my experience of this controversy. (1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree)

Section G: Coping & Resilience

Q24. Which of the following coping strategies have you used since the NEET UG controversy? (Select all that apply)

Q25. Open-ended: In your own words, describe how the NEET UG paper leak and re-examination controversy has affected your life, mental well-being, and future plans.

Researcher Notes

Domain	Questions	Suggested Scoring Tool for Cross-referencing
Stress & Anxiety	Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8	Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
Emotional Impact	Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13	PHQ-9 (Depression Screen)
Institutional Trust	Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17	Adapted Institutional Trust Scale
Academic Motivation	Q18, Q19, Q20	Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)
Social Impact	Q21, Q22, Q23	UCLA Loneliness Scale
Coping	Q24, Q25	Brief COPE Inventory

This proforma covers all major psychological constructs relevant to examination-induced trauma: acute stress, institutional betrayal, academic identity disruption, social pressure, and resilience. It can be combined with validated scales (PSS-10, PHQ-9) for a publishable mixed-methods study.