1. Coping With Exam
Failure
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2. Don’t Panic
It happens to the best of us, but knowing how to cope when you flunk an
exam isn't something that comes naturally to all. From the most insignificant
test to the most important exam, the knock in confidence resulting from a bad
grade can take the wind out of our sails and leave us feeling embarrassed,
angry and depressed.
It might help you to know that some of the greatest minds ever to grace this
green earth have suffered setbacks in their time, it’s a perfectly natural part
of life and learning, so here’s my top tips for coping with exam failure, laced
with historical fails designed to prove we all have our bad days...

3. The Talking Cure
The worst things you can do when you’ve suffered a setback are
regress into your shell and bottle it all up. Hard as it may be,
chat it out with your nearest and dearest. The support of family
and friends will see you through the tough times, while teachers
are always there to offer a helping hand, show you were you
went wrong and build you up for your next effort. Alternatively,
it’s worth a look online, there are forums and webspaces where
students in the same situation share their worries. Try chatting to
kindred spirits at thestudentroom.
From history: Failing an exam doesn't mean you’re going to drop
out – unlike one Bill Gates who dropped out of Harvard in 1975,
only to become possibly the richest man in the world.

4. Weigh It Up
After any failure it always helps to take a step back and weigh
up your options. Can you retake the exam? Can you improve in
other areas to bring your grades up to scratch? Explore all the
options open to you before doing anything rash.
From history: Henry Ford’s first foray into business, the Detroit
Automobile Co., dissolved in 1901 when customers complained
of high prices and low quality. A year later, his second company,
the Henry Ford Co., was dissolved due to a dispute with a
consultant. Don’t let failure break you - when was the last time
you saw a Ford? Today, right?

5. Pack Up Your Troubles
Having reconciled with yourself the fact that you got it wrong this
time round and weighed up your next move, steel yourself and
get ready to bounce back. Put the past to bed and focus on
getting right next time, either in the retake or the next exam on
the horizon – focus on the future and don't look back.
From history: Did you know that despite being a Maths
whizz, Albert Einstein was very poor at language? Initially the
Federal Polytechnic Academy rejected his application due to
poor marks in non-science related subjects. Everyone has
strengths – everyone has weaknesses.

6. Focus On Yourself
Pressure to pass tests and exams bombards you from all angles when
you’re in education. It’s not just the expectations of the school, often
the pressure to perform to the standards expected by your parents
can be overbearing and cause unnecessary stress - never good
preparation. Be true to yourself, be realistic; of course you want to do
well but don’t let the hopes and aspirations of others bear down on
you too hard. It’s you who has to sit the paper and you with the most
to lose - moreover it’s you with the most to gain. Set the bar as high
or low as you know you’re capable of.
From history: Despite twisting his melon around one of the greatest
theories in world history, Charles Darwin had a somewhat
inauspicious start in life. Lambasted by his father and his teachers,
failing medical school - it's no wonder no-one knows his name...

7. Reasons to be cheerful
Steve Jobs: Dropped out of Reed College after just six months
because of the financial strain it placed on his parents.
Fred Astaire: "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little."
Evaluation of Astaire's first screen test. Oof.
Harrison Ford: The Star Wars and Indiana Jones star majored in
philosophy at Ripon College (honest!) but dropped out just
before graduating. The force is weak with this one.
Dick Cheney: Once the second-most powerful person on Earth,
Cheney flunked out of America's prestigious Yale. Twice. And
George Bush passed!