hey can i ask your advice on feeling better after an awful exam? last week i had my hsc half yearlies and i had 5 exams all in one week and i have adhd so study is really hard for me and i did a lot of last minute stuff…and i’ll be lucky if i get 12% and i’m so worried about what my teacher’s going to say…and i’ll embarrass myself and i’ll go from top in the class to irredeemably bottom and it’s all over now but i feel so so awful, i can’t sleep at night bc of stress about it and i don’t know what to do 

Everyone responds differently to post-exam stress. Some people find it cathartic to discuss their asnwers immediately after the exam. Others don’t. If you fall within the latter group then don’t be afraid to hightail the fuck out of the exam room as soon as possible. There’s no need to exacerbate your stress levels. Take care of yourself.

Be honest about what you can control after the exam. You can’t sit the exam again, you can’t rewind the clock two weeks and change your study habits. Whilst its natural to feel a sense of regret or dread over the questions you found challenging, realise that these feelings do not change what has happened. The decisive step is how you respond to these negative emotions. For example, try not to let your feelings about your performance in this exam affect your performance in your next exam. Whether it be ‘compartmentalisation’, ‘crying it out’ or 'ignoring it’ - stick it in the “IOU” box of emotions to unpack later. All you can do now is to wait for your results.

While it’s still fresh in your mind, write down three positives of the exam, followed by three negatives. Did your study methods correlate to the areas examined? Were you nervous? Was time management an issue? How did you feel walking out of that exam? What song best describes the entire experience? This quickfire stream of consciousness review will serve as an honest reflection from which you can target and refine your exam preparation technique, both academically and emotionally. I also find writing things down a great way to 'let go’ of those residual emotions from the exam.

Chances are, you’ve been highly strung for the past few weeks (or heck, the all nighter you’ve pulled to study for the exam). Congratulate yourself - fuck yes you’ve completed an exam! Find an activity to break up the cycle of study-eat-rest-study. You’ll be back to that routine in a few hours. Let yourself breathe. Listen to that album, watch that movie, catch up with that friend you’ve been rescheduling for the past month, read that book. Mindlessly scroll tumblr, binge watch netflix - Reset and recuperate so that you’re ready for the next hurdle.

Its natural to judge your performance against everyone else in the exam, how much they wrote, what answers they got, how they solved a problem. Don’t give too much weight to what people say they’ve done. You don’t know what they wrote, and just because five people wrote the same response doesn’t mean that your response is incorrect. . In the end you can only control your own performance. Putting it bluntly, after the exam, it doesn’t matter what your peers wrote. Because it doesn’t change the fact that you can’t go back and change your answer. What’s done is done.

What were your strengths and weaknesses? What types of questions did you do well in? Is it a substantive or procedural problem?  (e.g. is it because you don’t understand the content, or is it because you can’t manage your study time/ write that quickly/ poor time management during the exam). Use this as a matrix to target your study method and review for your next exam

Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or professor for advice. Even when you’ve done well - it doesn’t hurt to ask where those extra marks could have gone, or how you could further develop your response for future exams. Its always daunting to ask for advice when you’ve done poorly in an exam. But don’t forget, your teacher is paid to help you. Literally.

If you feel as if your performance has been affected by a health issue, don’t be afraid to ask for a formal review of your marks or for special consideration (alteration of your marks) for your next exam. Check your high school/ university policies on this matter. Some will require formal documentation, and there may be a strict deadline you’ll need to adhere to. Asking for SC is nothing to be ashamed of. It doesn’t mean you are any less deserving of your results. Its simply a recognition that “hey, we need to level the playing field here.“ 

• A kinder, gentler philosophy of success
• On being wrong
• On getting up again
• Getting stuck in the negatives (and how to get unstuck) 
• Overcoming hopelessness 
• The Power of Vulnerability

• Dealing with failure
• Some advice from Oprah, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Julie Andrews  
• Why you will fail to have a great career
• Come here friend,  and let me whisper in your ear: I failed. 

• Motivation by @areistotle
• How to reduce exam stress by @studydesu
• How to mentally prepare yourself for a test by @eruditicn
• What to do the night before an exam by @beautifullearning
• Focusing on a long term goal by @studybuzz
• Preparing for a day of study by @gracelearns 
• Annotating Texts by @delthenerd
• Using onenote by @strive-for-da-best 
• Study Apps by @katsdesk

• Resources for studying with a mental illness by @studybowie
• How to study with a mental illness by @haleystudies
• Dealing with Test Anxiety by @studybuzz
• ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder by Stephen Tonti 
• Depression, the Secret We Share by Andrew Solomon
• Living and Studying with anxiety by @hayley-studies
• 5 tips for an exam if you have test anxiety by @collegerefs
• Overcoming Test Anxiety  by @staedtlers-and-stabilos
• Study and mental health  by @getstudyblr
• This answer by @studyrose 

• 101 self care ideas when it gets all too much by @hbstudy
• Balancing a healthy lifestyle with studying by @joolshallie
• Tips for getting better rest by @overstudies
• Sleep by @studygene
• Calculate your bedtime 
• How to succeed? Get more sleep by Arianna Huffington
• Pzizz  
• Relax Melodies (iPhone) (android) 
• This list by @thecaseyfeed

• See this list
• A Song A Day 
• Find something on the Nostalgia Machine  
• Spotify playlists by @studyrelief
• Motivational texts from @academla

• Whilst it may feel like your future hinges on this one exam, remember your future isn’t some pre-determined linear equation. Your definition of success will change as you change. Your ambitions will change. Your gaols will change. And as long as you keep your mind open and you harbour a willingness to adapt, then there will always be a pathway for you to achieve your success. 
• And for those who have no frickin’ clue what their 'passions, dreams, ambitions’ are? Its ok. You don’t need some 'overarching mission to save the world’ every morning. In the wise words of Tim Minchin:
• “Americans on talent shows always talk about their dreams. Fine, if you have something that you’ve always dreamed of, like, in your heart, go for it! After all, it’s something to do with your time… chasing a dream. And if it’s a big enough one, it’ll take you most of your life to achieve, so by the time you get to it and are staring into the abyss of the meaninglessness of your achievement, you’ll be almost dead so it won’t matter. I never really had one of these big dreams. And so I advocate passionate dedication to the pursuit of short-term goals. Be micro-ambitious. Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you… you never know where you might end up. Just be aware that the next worthy pursuit will probably appear in your periphery. Which is why you should be careful of long-term dreams. If you focus too far in front of you, you won’t see the shiny thing out the corner of your eye. Right? Good. Advice. Metaphor. Look at me go.”

You can work hard at something and still not get the result you want. It’s all about expectation management. You might work hard and fall within the top 1% of your cohort. You can work hard and still fail.  

This is not to say that you shouldn’t try at all.

It’s merely a recognition that things don’t always go your way, you cannot control everything. The best thing you can do in that circumstance is to prepare for any contingencies.

You can control how you respond to that failure.

Sometimes it’s a question of studying effectively. The adage 'study smart, not hard’ etc. Target your study to the syllabus, the material covered in the exam, the specific style of questions in the exam. Sometimes it may simply be exam technique. 

Other times its things beyond your control. Stress, nerves, blanking out - we’re only human.

In the end, what you learn from the process is just as important as the result. Conversely, the result may not always justify the means. 

Its only natural to assume that your self worth is tied to your academic achievements. Up till now, you’ve spent the majority of your waking hours at school, under the pressure of constant assessments and scrutiny.

Keep in mind that one exam is only a reflection of your performance at one precise time, on one specific date, in one specific place. How you perform on 10am on Monday in exam hall A does not reflect your capacity nor ability for the other 364 days of your life. 

Find something which you can do for yourself. Something which you can fail in, without feeling terrible.This other thing doesn’t have to be another 'hobby’ you’re amazing at. It doesn’t have to be something you’re good at. "Being the best” is not a pre requisite to “enjoying something”. 

You will soon be dead. Life will sometimes seem long and tough and, god, it’s tiring. And you will sometimes be happy and sometimes sad. And then you’ll be old. And then you’ll be dead.There is only one sensible thing to do with this empty existence, and that is: fill it. Not fillet. Fill. It.

And in my opinion (until I change it), life is best filled by learning as much as you can about as much as you can, taking pride in whatever you’re doing, having compassion, sharing ideas, running(!), being enthusiastic. And then there’s love, and travel, and wine, and sex, and art, and kids, and giving, and mountain climbing … but you know all that stuff already.

• Let it out: Step back. Take a few days off. Shower, catch up on that sleep debt. Remind yourself of who you are outside your academic study. Catch up with a friend for coffee (or just get some coffee). Watch a movie, marathon a tv series, built a pillow fort, tumblr, youtube spiral - anything. Because your academic life is only one piece (of varying size) of a larger puzzle. Remind yourself of who you are outside of university/ school. 
• Formal/ Informal Avenues of Review : Check your school/university’s academic policies. Are you eligible to resit the exam? Were there any extenuating circumstances that affected your performance (e.g. medical, emergency etc)? Are you eligible to seek an adjustment to your marks? If you’re eligible, what documentation will you need to provide? Which staff member can you contact to follow up your application? If you’re not eligible, are there any other members of staff or advisor (e.g. course advisors, councillors, student leaders) you can discuss your circumstances with? 
• Reset, Recuperate, Retake:  It is likely that you will need to repeat or retake the class/ assessment/ unit. That’s ok. Seek feedback from your lecturer/ tutor or teacher. Consolidate your strong areas. Focus on the areas of the course you find challenging. Use the feedback given to target your study time! 
• Same Shit, Different Day: While the content may be the same, using a different method to study may be more effective ( see below) 

• flashcards by @illolita​, 
• colour coding 
• audio recordings by @riseandstudy​, 
• mindmaps  by @reviseordie​
• sticky notes  @etudiance​ 
• Change your study habits by @whilwheaton​ 
• Practice past papers.  (see below). 

• On being wrong 
• On regret 
• On making difficult choices 
• On what the fuck to do with your life 
• On “falling behind”   
• On rushing things 
• On success  
• On motivation - for recent graduates 
• On perspective by @fishingboatproceeds​
•  Just do it 

•  8tracks and this spotify playlist 
• Classical music for any mood  by @violaboss​ 
• Find something on the Nostalgia Machine  
• Infinite Jukebox 
• Make your own music
• IDGAF by Watsky “Let me tell you about my GPA, four-O, straight A’s and my- idgaf!” 

•  Honest Trailers 
• Dance Mashup 
• Thomas Sanders @thatsthat24​ 
• This kid and this kid 
• Goat Remixes 
• This vine 

• Cute flash games (+amazing background music) 
• Motivation wall by @study-ings 
• Mug Cake by @sortedfood 
• Calming Manatee 
• Ultimate motivation song 
• SCREAM INTO THE VOID (personal favourite) 

•  Yes. See here 

• Yes, studyblr makes studying look glamourous, neat, aesthetic, “oh, look how these _____ notes helped me get an A+.” But writing notes, having fancy pens, using apps (whilst useful) only form one part of a larger narrative. 
• The reality is much less appealing. The road to graduation is not a fairytale. The road to graduation is fucking tough. It may involve tears, frustration, all nighters, crippling anxiety and unhealthy levels of caffeine consumption. One set back does not knock you off the path to graduation. Setbacks are arguably a part of the journey. 

•  There’s a special brand of frustration that comes with dedicating the past month/week/ year to a particular project and not achieving your desired result/ grade. It stings like a bitch and is often accompanied by a sense of doubt. 
• Check that you’ve followed your syllabus. Accept that there may have been factors outside of your control. Revisit the process - what did you enjoy? What did you learn from the mechanics of the process? 
• The value of hard work does not necessarily lie in the result attained; nor is the result attained a reflection of the worth of your efforts. 

• Retaking the test/assessment/ unit can be an advantage. You know what questions to expect. More importantly, you know how you react under exam conditions. Prepare. Plan your exam time. Will you start the exam paper from the beginning or the end and work backwards? 
• Use this experience in those pesky interview questions! (e.g. the good ol’ “tell me about a time you failed”) 

•  Ah, my pesky perfectionist tendencies. At times, I must remind myself that I don’t need to be perfect in order to reach my goal. Not having the latest app, 10 different coloured pens, that fancy notebook, the newest edition of the textbook does not mean I’ve automatically failed. I just have to be more resourceful. 
• Just start. Work with what you have, to the best of your ability. Yes it may be difficult; you might need to access extra resources online, or find material from other sources. Your notes may all be in the same colour, or spread over three different notebooks. But success will not be an option unless you start. 

• On bad semesters by @post–grad 
•  This masterpost by @areistotle 
• Reducing stress by @mindpalacestudy 
•  How to fail by @psychstudyblr 

•  what are things you do over and over again and never go wrong with it. These are your strengths
• What are things you hate doing because you never can do it right,no matter how much you try. These are your weaknesses.

• Competitive  ≠ being an asshole. Just because you’re trying to be better than a person does not mean you have to hate the person. Hating a person means jealousy, and that’s not good. When the person asks for some help, more often than not they do need it. And who says you have to project the competitive attitude into talk? Let your work speak for you.
• Not everyone is your mortal enemy. This is where people often mistake it for competitiveness. I repeat: being competitive is not a race. There’s no finish line, there’s an infinite amount of steps to build, and it’s okay if it’s with a friend. It’s more than okay to ask for some help,and definitely okay to help others.

Bad grades may seem like the death of us, but they’re not.. Here’s some advice from me to you, about how to get back up and brush your shoulders off.

• “What in the hell happened?” Figure out why you got the grade you received. If it was on a test/assignment see if your teacher provides some sort of answer key for you to look at. If not, go to our teacher’s office hours and find out. If you never understand why something is wrong then you won’t be able to improve later.
• Tell yourself you’re going to do better. You need to pump some motivation in yourself. No time for feeling down and sad, the world doesn’t work that way. Stop crying and do better.
• “I studied so much for this though..” Maybe your studying wasn’t as effective as you thought. I have a post (here) that may help you out next time.
• Start rewarding yourself. You know that new stationery you’ve been eyeing? Or that expensive makeup you want so bad? Well guess what, it’s time to work hard for it. Momma Domi says you’re not allowed to buy it until your grade improves. I know it sounds harsh, but trust me…I’ve failed a class (or 2) before, and this is what motivate me to retake it and prove myself worthy enough to get an A+ this time.
• Learn how to discipline yourself. Truth is, you could’ve done poorly because of your lack of studying, or because you wanted to procrastinate for several weeks. Now you’re suffering with these consequences. Stop playing yourself!
• Learn from your mistakes. Don’t allow yourself to make the same mistake twice. Start doing practice problems out of your text book to familiarize yourself with the content better.
• Realize that you aren’t a failure. Don’t be negative. Never call yourself a failure over a bad grade/marking. The moment you believe you’ve failed is the moment you’ll stop feeling motivated to do better.