Welp, it happened. You failed a test and are pretty disappointed. Trust me, I’ve been there. Here are just a few steps I took (and recommend) for whenever this happens.
1. It’s okay to cry about it. I cried for a few minutes after I saw my test grade. I had never gotten an F on any test during my college journey, and I couldn’t believe I started university with failing my first test. Know that it’s okay to cry; it’s better than keeping it in.
2. Don’t put yourself down about it. Now that you’ve cried and let out all the emotions about it, remind yourself that it’s okay that you got an F. It is not the end of the world, even though it may seem like it. Don’t think it means you’re stupid or something, because it doesn’t; it just means you may need to study differently.
3. Talk to your professor or TA. Talk to the person who graded your test and ask if they can go over what you did wrong. Also ask if they can show you the proper way to complete a problem or answer a question you may have gotten wrong.
4. Ask more questions in class. If you’re like me, asking questions in class may frighten you. You may wonder if they’ll sound stupid, but chances are there’s at least one other student there with the same question. Don’t be afraid to raise your hand if you’re confused about something in class.
5. Go to office hours more. Try to go to as many office hours if you can. Even if you don’t have any questions, there might be students who have some there. Plus, you might think of some questions along the way.
6. Take advantage of other resources your school may have. My uni has both drop-in tutoring and tutorial groups, both of which are super helpful. Depending on the class, many TA’s also hold open office hours to review questions with multiple students. Find out if there’s other resources you can use that will help you.
7. Change your study habits. Did you study while watching Netflix? Maybe that didn’t help. Did you rewrite your notes? If you didn’t, maybe you should start. There are many ways to study, so find what works for you!
8. Form an awesome study group (if you do better in groups). Personally, I study better when I’m alone, but there are many people who study better in groups. Try to get a group of your peers together to study before the next test, or even just do homework together!
9. Eat and sleep well before your test. Make sure you’re eating as healthy as possible before your next test. Also, get as much sleep as you can. Make it a goal to finish studying early the night before so you can have at least 7-8 hours of sleep.
10. Remember, it’s going to be okay. I can’t stress this enough, because your mental health should be your priority. Be confident in yourself, and don’t stress yourself before a test. You’re going to do great.
I hope this helps everyone! Please let me know of any other recommendations y’all might have :)
