I’m really scared I failed my exam.

Hello,
I am currently a final year biomedical science student that just finished their final exam. But I’m scared I didn’t really do well on it, we have a Data Analysis and Interpretation (worth 1/3) part of the paper and I couldn’t answer half of it.
I know I did well on one of my essays that’s worth 1/3 of my mark and the second essay I don’t really know how I did. I’m a good student but this test just didn’t go well.
I know there’s no point on dwelling on it anymore because what’s done is done, but can’t relax I feel anxious and my heart is beating really fast. I think I’m starting to feel depressed about it. I literally couldn’t stay in my room because it made me feel worse.
I don’t really have anyone to talk to, talking to my family would just make it worse and I’ve already spoken to my friends about how I feel but I don’t want to constantly be like “oh, I don’t know how I did, oh I’m scared” I feel like it would just annoy them because they told me it will be okay.
Please give me some advice, I’m really having a hard time.

Hello,
I am currently a final year biomedical science student that just finished their final exam. But I’m scared I didn’t really do well on it, we have a Data Analysis and Interpretation (worth 1/3) part of the paper and I couldn’t answer half of it.
I know I did well on one of my essays that’s worth 1/3 of my mark and the second essay I don’t really know how I did. I’m a good student but this test just didn’t go well.
I know there’s no point on dwelling on it anymore because what’s done is done, but can’t relax I feel anxious and my heart is beating really fast. I think I’m starting to feel depressed about it. I literally couldn’t stay in my room because it made me feel worse.
I don’t really have anyone to talk to, talking to my family would just make it worse and I’ve already spoken to my friends about how I feel but I don’t want to constantly be like “oh, I don’t know how I did, oh I’m scared” I feel like it would just annoy them because they told me it will be okay.
Please give me some advice, I’m really having a hard time.

Hello,
I am currently a final year biomedical science student that just finished their final exam. But I’m scared I didn’t really do well on it, we have a Data Analysis and Interpretation (worth 1/3) part of the paper and I couldn’t answer half of it.
I know I did well on one of my essays that’s worth 1/3 of my mark and the second essay I don’t really know how I did. I’m a good student but this test just didn’t go well.
I know there’s no point on dwelling on it anymore because what’s done is done, but can’t relax I feel anxious and my heart is beating really fast. I think I’m starting to feel depressed about it. I literally couldn’t stay in my room because it made me feel worse.
I don’t really have anyone to talk to, talking to my family would just make it worse and I’ve already spoken to my friends about how I feel but I don’t want to constantly be like “oh, I don’t know how I did, oh I’m scared” I feel like it would just annoy them because they told me it will be okay.
Please give me some advice, I’m really having a hard time.

Hello there,
I was in your situation last year, I got 7% in my essay and got 41% overall for that module, almost failing it. I was super sad and cried about it for a few days. It is absolutely normal to feel this way. You care about your education and grades which demonstrates to me that you are normally a very good student. I am sure this specific assignment does not reflect your hardwork and dedication you have shown for your course thus far. In the end, you WILL graduate (even if you have to resit that specific module) and that is an acheivement by itself! Well done on finishing your last exam, you have done amazing.
Also, I would definitely try and hang out more with your family and friends, having them there as support will help improve your mood. Try and get your mind off that exam, it is finished and you do not need to think about it anymore.

Hey,
I just want to say: you're not alone in how you're feeling right now. So many students, especially in final year, go through this exact wave of anxiety and self-doubt after a tough exam. That pressure you’re feeling comes from wanting to do well and not wanting to let yourself down. That in itself says a lot about your character.
It’s completely okay to feel shaken after an exam that didn’t go as expected. The Data Analysis section may have thrown you off, but remember you did well in your essay, and you gave your best on the rest. Final marks are never just about one section; they’re weighted across multiple elements, and it’s often not as dire as it feels in the moment. Universities also take the overall performance of the cohort into account in many cases, especially for challenging final year papers.
Right now, it’s important to take care of your mental wellbeing. Feeling that intense stress, panic, or even symptoms of depression isn’t something you should ignore. It’s definitely worth speaking to someone about it, even if that’s a wellbeing advisor at your university. For example, at the University of Salford, we have student mental health and wellbeing services where you can talk confidentially to trained professionals. Your university likely has something similar, and it’s 100% okay to reach out for support, that’s what those services are there for.
And about your friends: it’s understandable to worry about repeating yourself, but the people who care about you want you to be okay. You don’t have to constantly put on a brave face. Maybe just let one or two of them know that you’re struggling right now and just need someone to sit with you, go for a walk, or distract you. You don’t always have to talk about the exam, sometimes being around someone who makes you feel safe is enough.
Take it day by day. Your results don’t define you, and this one exam will never take away from the work, growth, and effort you’ve put into your degree. Be kind to yourself, you've made it to the end of your final year, that in itself is a huge achievement. You’re doing better than you think 💛
Good luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative

Hello, thank you for the reply. I have spoken to people before when I felt like this and this time I did go speak to my lecturer about how I felt and that helped me calm down and realise that everything would be okay so I think I coped with it better after that. I'm happy to say I passed that exam and have graduated.