You Failed an Exam—What Comes Next?
Read time: 3 minutes
Author: Lorin Harris
This content was aided by the OpenAI language model Assistant. Learn more at https://openai.com/.
Introduction
Transitioning from high school to college brings varying degrees of ease for different students. While some may breeze through college exams with minimal effort, others struggle to adapt to the nuances of instruction, testing, and grading. Universally relatable among college students is the experience of failing an exam or falling short of anticipated grades, often occurring early in the semester as students navigate new class dynamics and subject matter. This setback can evoke a range of emotions, prompting introspection on study habits, comprehension of the material, time management, and even one's place within the course or major. In the aftermath of failure, questions arise: How did this happen? Can I bounce back? What changes are necessary to prevent recurrence? This blog delves into these inquiries, offering insights on recovering from a failed exam and charting a course for academic success.
Reflecting on the “How” and “Why” of the Grade
Review the questions missed and material misunderstood. Set up a meeting with your professor or TA to walk you through them and help you understand why you missed them. Seeing if you can answer missed questions correctly through your own thought process is a great way to measure growth and how well you retain information, and it may help you construct a more kind and palatable reason for failing an exam—not that you aren’t capable, intelligent, or good at the subject—perhaps that you just need to slow down when reading questions or misunderstand certain concepts.
Analyze how much time was spent studying and look at study methods. What worked? What didn't? For example, did you study with friends that lead to distractions? Did you only reread the material and not write it down differently? Consider your habits—what worked in high school or for other classes may not work in college or even a particular class/topic. Take a poor grade as a standard for evaluation of what you’re currently doing, and adapt—it will make you more versatile and stronger!
Give yourself grace. Remember that a letter grade doesn’t reflect your intelligence or understanding. Almost everyone you meet in college has been there before, and sometimes the factors of a good grade on an exam are just not in our favor on a particular day, time or class. When we fail at something or have a negative experience, we tend to either internalize or externalize it—meaning the failure comes from something within, or outside circumstances that hinder our successes. Being cognizant of this allows you to be accountable for the ways in which you might not have studied as best as you could or the concepts you aren’t the best at, but keeps you from placing too much blame on yourself or the situation.
Tips for Next Time
1. Utilize Exam Wrappers: After receiving your graded exam, take the time to analyze the questions you missed and areas where you struggled. Utilize exam wrappers, a reflective tool where you assess your preparation, strategies, and understanding of the material. This process helps identify patterns in your mistakes and guides you in adjusting your study approach for future exams--read more about them here.
2. Seek Guidance and Feedback: Schedule a meeting with your professor or teaching assistant to discuss your exam performance. Gain insights into why you missed certain questions and seek advice on improving your comprehension of the material (you can do this on Starfish). Additionally, consider forming study groups with classmates who excel in the subject to exchange insights and clarify concepts collectively. Penn State Learning is a great free, on-campus resource that utilizes students to help other students in challenging courses. And of course, tutoring like that in which we offer at Tierney provides a holistic, 1-on-1 learning experiences that enriches skills and academic success beyond singular exam grades and the classroom.
3. Revise Study Strategies and Time Management: Reflect on your study habits and time allocation leading up to the exam. Evaluate the effectiveness of your study methods and identify any distractions or inefficiencies. Consider implementing active learning techniques, such as practicing with sample problems or teaching concepts to others. Develop a structured study schedule that prioritizes consistent review and mastery of course material over cramming sessions—starting a week out for studying is a great way to build up memory and divvy up time spent studying.
Concluding Thoughts…
In the journey from high school to college, facing exam failures is a shared experience. It's a time for introspection, questioning our study habits, and seeking guidance from the resources our college provides. By analyzing our mistakes, seeking feedback, and refining our study strategies, we pave the way for future success and the grades we hope for. Remember, a single grade doesn't define your abilities or predict the rest of your academic record. A failed exam can be a wake-up call and a great start for positive academic changes!
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