Dealing With Exam Failure

Academic excellence piles pressure on students to perform in order to be accepted and appreciated. As such, so much significance has been placed on examination results, whether formative or summative, to the detriment of the student. If the outcome of exams is not in your favour, here are ways of dealing with the situation.

Have a plan

Having a plan that you can put into action in case you do not attain the grades you hope for is great. Do not be too hung up on a single outcome because you will be unable to move forward as quickly as you should.

Understand that you are not a failure

Underperforming does not mean that all your endeavours are destined for failure. It is important to know that it is only a bump on the road, and there are many ways for you to succeed. In fact, you could be doing well in other areas of your life so do not let exam failure make you feel incompetent.

Talk to someone

Do not bottle up your feelings; you can talk to your parents, siblings or friends about your distress, they are likely to advice and help you because they have been in your shoes. It is also advisable to discuss all your worries with a qualified professional, for example your school counsellor or a psychiatrist to eliminate the possibility of stress having a negative impact on your health and well-being.

Keep yourself occupied

Activities are great for stress relief. Therefore, as you wait for your examination results, participate in activities such as playing your desired sports to blow off steam, challenging yourself to learn how to draw or paint, learning how to play a musical instrument or volunteering. Focus on activities you like that put you in a relaxed state.

Be self-aware

Every student hopes to excel in school, but it is essential that you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses in relation to school subjects. Being self-aware ensures that the goals you have set for yourself are achievable in that you are not suddenly hoping to perform excellently in a subject while your record has been average or below average.

Accept and move on

When you receive your results, it is undoubtedly necessary for you to reflect on your performance and assess what you could have done better, as this will assist you in your future examinations. However, it is paramount that you do not ruminate on your performance longer than you need to. Make peace with whatever outcome you may have gotten and focus on how best to move forward.