"From Failing to Thriving”: Strategies to Turn Your Bad Exam Results Around

We’ve all been there, I think we can all agree no one is perfect. Whether you’re a straight A student or below average performer in school, everyone has received a bad assessment mark. Sometimes you see it coming (i.e. you had left the exam room knowing you bombed it just 3 weeks prior), and other times it catches you completely off guard.

Whilst receiving a disappointing exam result can be disheartening, it’s not the end of the road. What’s more important, is what you choose to do next. 

Having received a couple bad ones in my time at school, I can confidently assure you that you can definitely turn things around. You just need the right mindset and strategies. 

1. Self-reflection is key

The first thing to do, is think about what went wrong. How can you improve if you don’t know what to improve upon? 

Upon reflection, you might notice that your poor performance can be attributed to one of these:

• You didn’t understand the content

• You made silly mistakes

• You didn’t finish the exam because you ran out of time

• You were too nervous and blanked out on every question

Recognising your weaknesses informs what you need to do next time. For example, if you made lots of silly mistakes, you could try checking your answers several times before moving onto the next question. 

2. Feedback, feedback, feedback

The next thing to do, is try and get some more objective feedback on your work. This is particularly important for subjects that have no singular correct answer, such as English. Try to gather a wide range of feedback from fellow peers, tutors and teachers. 

Even though you’ve read your essay 16 times, you should never underestimate the power of a fresh pair of eyes checking your work. Everyone might have different things to say, or they might all have the same bit of critique - make sure you pay attention to ALL feedback and evaluate whether you can implement their suggestions.

But the process doesn’t stop there! Collecting feedback is an iterative process, so don’t be afraid to bring them updated versions of your work and continually seek ways to improve. 

This is where having a tutor comes in really handy - they have expertise in the subject and can give you lots of feedback, even outside of school hours.

3. Build a highly effective study routine

There’s usually a good few months between each exam block throughout the school year. Your next focus, should be on fixing your study habits. Excellent exam results don’t just magically appear out of a hat; you need to be efficient and effective. And it all boils down to mastering the art of studying.

Here are some tips:

1. Consistency and repetition is key. 

   1. Make sure you intentionally allocate time to prepare for each subject. Some subjects require more attention than others, but no subject should be neglected until the week before a major assessment. Make sure you regularly review topics to improve retention.

2. Experiment with different techniques

   • There’s no “golden rule” when it comes to studying, but some techniques have been tried and tested by thousands before you, such as:

     • Blurting 

     • Mindmapping 

     • Flash cards

     • Teaching material to someone else

3. Don’t forget to take care of yourself

   • Remember that a blunt axe can’t cut trees. If you’re not taking care of your mind and body, you will reach a stage of severe burnout, which is very difficult to recover from. 

     • Take regular breaks

     • Continue your hobbies and social life

     • Try stress management techniques such as meditation

     • Prioritise sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise

   These things might feel like a waste of time when time is lacking, but they ultimately improve your productivity in the long-run.
   

4. Prioritise quality over quantity

   There’s no “magic number” for how many hours to study a day for the highest chances of success. There’s also no point in sitting at your desk for 8 hours “studying” when you’ve only been productive for 3 of those hours (guilty!). What is MORE important, is that your time is spent intentionally and efficiently.

   Also, ensure your understanding is “high quality”. Make sure you fully understand a concept and ask your tutor if you don’t. Make sure you can answer all styles of questions on it. There’s nothing worse than seeing a question on the syllabus dot point that you skipped over because “There’s no way they’d ask me this”.

   An easy hack, is by going through practice exam papers. You’ll be able to identify common questions, which allow you to become more confident and better prepared. If your school doesn’t already provide past papers, consider asking your

   tutor or finding resources online.

Conclusion

Transforming disappointing exam results is tough, but so are you. 

With enough dedication and focus on the right strategies, it’s possible to save any sinking ship.  You’re always bound to face challenges along the way but always remember each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Focus on improvement, and ultimately your efforts will pave the way to achievement. 

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