You Failed an Exam, How Do You Cope Up?

College and university exams are meant to be hard. It’s fairly common for students to fail at some point. But of course, we do understand that the feeling is still unpleasant. Sometimes, students begin to question their abilities or think if they are on the right path. We’ve been there, and that is why we know exactly what you feel. You are probably thinking about what we did next. And this is what this post is all about. We will share with you practical ways on how you can cope up after a failed exam. We guarantee that these tips work.

It is a must that you know how to manage your emotions whenever you face failures. Otherwise, your mental health might be in jeopardy.  

You Are Not A Failure! 

You’ve probably seen this a thousand times, but failure does not determine your value. As cliche as this may sound, these things will make you more resilient and tougher. Both of which are needed once you step out of the university. 

Even the most prominent people experienced failure. But what is important is how they were able to lift themselves. They didn’t let it dictate their future. And that’s what you have to keep in mind as well. 

Do Not Compare Your Test Results With Others 

It will not help if you keep on comparing grades or test results with your classmates. In fact, it will make it worse. Or is your intention to look for someone who failed as well so you do not feel isolated? Either way, this is not good. You should only compete with yourself, and improve because you want to see yourself progress. 

If some of your classmates discuss their test results, we recommend distancing yourself for a while. It will just remind you of what happened, and it can generally affect your routine. 

Talk to a Person You Trust and Grieve  

Feeling devastated after a failed exam is natural, and you are free to grieve. Talk to your friend or a mentor and release your frustration. But as experts suggest, only grieve for 24 hours. After that, you should be able to let it go and move on. This takes us to our next tip.

Plan Your Next Move 

Once your emotions die down, it is easier to think logically. When you are ready, take a seat and start thinking about your game plan. Assess the damage done by a failed exam. Will you still be able to pass the subject? Do you need to talk to your professor and see if there’s a possibility of getting extra credit? Are you planning to get a tutor or help so you can ace the succeeding exams? List it all down.

Also, you can try to go back and reflect on what happened. Of course, there are instances that an exam is extremely hard, and it is almost impossible to pass. But you have to be objective and ask yourself if you really prepared for it. Maybe you could have done something differently.  Take a look at your room and perhaps improve your study space and habits. Your plan will be dependent on how much you reflected. Thus, take it seriously. 

You can also have an accountability partner. They can always remind you of your plans, and you will be more motivated to work on these changes. 

Take a Quick Break and Divert Your Attention  

There’s no point in replaying your failed exam in your head. Reality is, it won’t change anything. After such a horrifying experience, you need to loosen up and give yourself a break. You can read a book, see a movie, pamper yourself, or eat out with friends. If you do plan to eat out, we recommend avoiding junk or unhealthy foods. We understand that it can be tempting to eat as much fries, burgers, and pizza, but science has it that these foods will only aggravate your mood swings.  

Surround Yourself With Positive People 

And of course, the people you surround yourself with play a huge role. If they make fun of you or mock you for a failed exam, then you might want to look for a different social circle. Real friends will understand how a failed exam can affect you. And they will practice empathy and support you until you are able to go back on track.