How to cope with exam disappointment

Grades are painted as the be-all and end-all in our academic lives, particularly when it comes to exams. So much pressure is placed on achieving those top grades and it can be incredibly stress-provoking and puts strain on many student’s mental health, particularly if they find themselves overworking trying to achieve their best.

We all know exams are unpredictable, sometimes the material isn’t our best area, or the questions aren’t what we were prepared for. Not doing as well in your exam as you thought you would do, or as you thought you deserved, can be incredibly disappointing. But there is a plethora of ways to deal with this disappointment when it arises.

The most effective way of coping with exam disappointment is using the setback as motivation. Making use of consultation hours can be incredibly helpful when trying to understand where you went wrong. Lecturers are there to help so utilising the resources and opportunities offered to you can help you improve or gain some advice for next time. Exams do not define your ability, so don’t let them define the worth you place on yourself.

It can also be helpful to de-stress with your friends. After weeks of revision and high-stress exams, the last thing you need is to wallow in disappointment. A night out, cinema trip, or coffee break can help take your mind off the disappointment that you feel and help you re-evaluate the severity of the situation. You may realise that it isn’t as bad as it originally seemed.

Finally, it’s important to remember that there are always options. A disappointing grade can feel like the end of the world, especially in an important exam. However, there are so many ways to rectify the mistake. For a start, you can often resit exams to achieve a better grade. Even if the path is a little longer after a disappointing exam grade, your path will still take you to where you want and need to be.

Hopefully this exam season hasn’t been too horrendous, but if you have found yourself disappointed with your results remember that you’re trying your best and that is good enough regardless!

Edited by Caitlin Hart