The Board fever is on, and this year, my household is in its grip too as my younger one takes her 10th exams. The hype about the boards is no less than what it would be for those preparing for an IAS exam as she locks herself up in her room, only to emerge when hunger strikes, which, thanks to all the stress, (and I suspect boredom too), is nearly every one hour.
Personally, the only difference I ever saw between the boards and regular exams is the change of location. In addition to the anxiety of cracking an exam, one also has an alien environment to deal with. Perhaps easier for us to dismiss, but much tougher for 16-year-olds to handle. To be away from the security of known surroundings and familiar faces. It justifies the hype I suppose.
