“I didn't study for the test. Do you think you could send me a photo of the answers? » This single phrase has been heard in schools around the world. The pressure on students to achieve good grades has a negative effect on students. The pressure starts when they are young and builds up as students get older. Students can only handle so much pressure until they go through burnout. This is what often leads some students to drop out of high school. The pressure on students to get good grades often leads to depression, anger, and cheating. Cheating is a common method used when students want to get a good grade on a test. They often resort to cheating because it is very effective and their efforts are unnecessary. Cheating carries a big risk if the student gets caught. Students don't think about what might happen if they are caught cheating. “School is no longer about education; it’s about getting good grades and that adds pressure.” (Ho 1) The amount of academic cheating has increased significantly over the past 50 years among students around the world. Technology has also advanced to the point where a single click on a touchscreen can share answers to the most recent test or even the test itself. Students also choose to cheat by taking brain-enhancing drugs. Adderall is one such brain-enhancing drug. This allows the mind to concentrate fully for a while. K-12 students use this “medicine” to help them get through a long night or do better on an important exam. Students who receive a legitimate ADHD diagnosis often sell their Adderall pills. “Adderall is abused and even in college, we take more than marijuana and it’s easier to get.” (Cooper 1) What...... middle of article ...... students can motivate them to do better, this often does more damage than good. Parents, teachers and colleges need to realize that a student is suffering from burnout and will result in loss of motivation caused by the pressure put on them. Works Cited Ho, Linette. “School is no longer about education; it's about getting good grades and that adds pressure. The Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network, March 27. 2012. WebPalmer, Barbara. “Pressure to get good grades often leads to high stress and cheating, teachers say.” Stanford Report. Stanford University. February 23, 2005. Web. Powell, Kathryn. “Stressed and Obsessed Part 5: the effects of stress on student life”. The gargoyle online. University of Illinois Laboratory High School, May 2. 2013. Web. Pratt, Richard. “Depression takes a heavy toll on students.” The Gazette. March 3, 2014. Web.