How To Cope With A Disappointing Exam Result

Put the result into perspective.
Sometimes receiving a disappointing exam result can make you feel like all your hard work throughout the academic year was for nothing. However, it’s important to put your result into perspective; many 30-credit modules consist of multiple assignments and/or exams, allowing one poor result in a module to be compensated for by other, stronger ones. Additionally, each module might only contribute to a small percentage of your overall mark for the year – for example, my modules are worth 30-credits, each of which represent only 25% of my mark for the year (120 credits).

It might also be worth considering how your university awards degrees. Lots of degree awards are more heavily weighted towards your final year, which means results in second year have less impact on your overall classification. Make sure to check your university’s website to find out more about course-specific degree classifications.

Take on board any feedback.
It can be difficult to receive constructive criticism on a disappointing exam result; I know myself that I can get really frustrated reading my feedback, especially when I don’t achieve the result I expected. Nonetheless, the feedback given on your assignment is a good reference point for how to improve in the future and can give you a better understanding of why you received the grade you did. I recommend waiting for a few days after receiving your mark before you attempt to read your feedback – this gives you time to process your initial emotions and allows you to approach your tutor/examiner’s advice with a level-head.

Talk to your tutors/lecturers.
If you’re not happy with your result (or think it was genuinely unfair/incorrectly marked), consider reaching out to the tutors/lecturers in question and ask if you can have a discussion about your grade. Most tutors/lecturers will have weekly office hours that you can either attend in person or attend through Microsoft Teams/Zoom if requested directly. If you feel nervous about reaching out to your tutors, check if your university has an academic support service; they may have a faculty advisor on-hand that can provide guidance on why you achieved the grade you did.

Consider what to do next.
If you’re anything like me, you can’t instantly move on from a disappointing result. Allow yourself time and space to be frustrated but try not to dwell on it for too long. One result isn’t your entire academic career or your whole university experience. Remember you can always try and make up for it in a different module, or in some cases re-sit the module/exam itself. Results don’t define you, but how you react to them can have a significant impact on your wellbeing.

Hope this was helpful and best of luck to any students with upcoming exams! :smile: