Why Mental Lapses Happen During Board Exams

By: Justin 5/16/2025

mental lapse

You’ve studied hard, reviewed consistently, and practiced mock exams — but during the actual board exam, you suddenly forget what you thought you knew. This frustrating experience is called a mental lapse, and it happens to even the most prepared examinees.

Understanding why it happens is the first step toward avoiding it.


🧠 What Is a Mental Lapse?

A mental lapse is a sudden loss of focus, memory, or clarity while answering questions under pressure. It can lead to:

  • Forgetting key concepts or formulas
  • Misreading or misinterpreting questions
  • Making simple mistakes despite knowing the answer
  • Getting stuck or panicking

Mental lapses don't always mean you're underprepared — they often result from physical or mental strain.


🚨 Common Reasons Why Mental Lapses Occur

1. Lack of Sleep

Sleep is essential for memory recall and concentration. Sleep-deprived brains process information slower and make more mistakes.

2. Cramming Too Much

Trying to review everything at the last minute can overwhelm your short-term memory. Instead of reinforcing knowledge, cramming can lead to confusion.

3. Test Anxiety

Worrying about the outcome can cause your brain to freeze, especially during the first few minutes of the test.

4. Studying Without Breaks

Studying for long hours without rest can lead to fatigue and mental fog. The brain needs recovery time to retain and process information effectively.

5. Not Practicing Under Exam Conditions

If you're not used to answering questions under time pressure, you might freeze or panic during the real exam.


🧠 Real-Life Examples

  • A student forgot the Pythagorean theorem during a simple math question — due to no sleep the night before.
  • One examinee misread the word “NOT” and chose the opposite answer, even though they understood the topic.
  • Another skipped a line on the answer sheet and mismatched several items before realizing it.

These lapses are not about intelligence. They're about mental readiness.


Final Thought

Knowing why mental lapses happen helps you prepare smarter. In the next article, we’ll cover how to prevent them so you can perform your best on exam day.