You’re numb. Your eyes are wet. You’re having trouble swallowing. Finding out you didn’t do well on an exam is usually a horrible feeling, especially if it was a surprise. Failing an exam can be very upsetting, no matter how old you are. This is especially true if a lot is riding on your grades, like a spot at your dream school or a shiny new driver’s license.
Your initial reaction
When I say I failed an exam, I mean I did fail it. Getting an A instead of an A*. You might be mad, want to hang out with friends, or want to be by yourself. Everyone has a different reaction. First, you should attempt to calm down and give yourself time to think about what has happened.
- You can go for a walk.
- You could require to work up a sweat by going to the gym or going for a long run while hearing to your favorite music.
- No matter how you feel, music can help. You might want something sad to cry to or happy – you can’t be sad while listening to a disco.
- Give yourself a break and get lost in a book or a movie. Go back to old favorites like Harry Potter or Finding Nemo and feel the warm embrace of nostalgia.
- Cooking, especially baking, is always a good answer. You can get rid of your anger by kneading dough, and then you can eat some chocolate chip cookies you made yourself.
- Mindfulness or meditation can help you calm your mind. You can find more simple ways to take care of yourself here and tips on accepting failure.
- But talking to a family member or close friend is one of the best things to do. Talk about how you feel. They can make you feel better and remind you that there’s more to life than test scores, which is why they love you.
Put it all into perspective.
Of course, telling this is much simpler than doing it. When you’re sad, it can feel like climbing a mountain in the middle of winter to think of the good things in your life and yourself. Remember the things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with your grades. Even writing it down might help.
Are you a loyal friend? One who listens well? Can you play songs, write poetry, or creatively think about the world? Do you make the best tea or the best playlists? Are you funny, kind, brave, or strong-willed? Can you run a knot in four minutes or always see the best in people?
There are many things to love about yourself, and your test scores are not the most important. None of these things about you has changed or gone away. You still have friends, family, and your personality. Don’t forget what makes you “you” and treasure it.
Also, if the test you failed was in a subject you knew you didn’t like, and you have no plans to study further, now might be a good time to give up. Of course, you can’t go to college and study Astrophysics if you failed your GCSE math. On the other hand, it’s probably not the end of the world if you failed Geography but are going to drama school.
Don’t judge yourself by how others treat you
No matter if you are Bella Hadid or Brenda Hale, there will always be someone smarter, prettier, funnier, or wealthier than you. You don’t live your life as the best. And that’s all right. Don’t be hard on yourself because you got a lower grade on an exam than your friends. Each negative comparison will only make you feel bad, while each positive one will only boost your self-esteem. No one else’s performance matters; you are your standard.
Take good next steps
Work ethic and study methods can be taught, just like most other things in life. Like this one, many online guides tell students and professionals how to work better and harder. As a general rule, make sure to put your work in the right order. This doesn’t mean you have to stop going out with friends.
If you study to handle your time well and don’t put things off, you’ll find you have time to do your work well and hang out with your friends. In the Internet age, it can be hard to keep distractions to a minimum, but there’s an app for that.
Is it easy to solve the problem? Did you fail because you didn’t have enough time, misread the question, or didn’t understand the main ideas? Our tutors are here to help if you need help with important parts of the course. Remember that you can always do better in the future. Failure isn’t something that you always have to be in. We’re sure you’ll do better the next time, and you should, too.
Add Comment