How to Deal with Bad Grades*

(*to clarify, in this context “bad grades” specifically means “grades that are lower than you’d wanted them.”)

I try to approach dealing with bad grades in two ways, and imagine them as two separate scenarios: getting a bad grade because of not being properly prepared, and getting a bad grade for reasons out of one’s control.

For starters, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. When things go wrong, it’s a lot easier to point fingers and blame the system, and often times, the system is indeed at fault. But not always. So I think the first obstacle is distinguishing between fault and folly, and coming to terms with the fact that I did, indeed, screw up.

So, for Scenario #1: once you’ve admitted to yourself that maybe you didn’t do your absolute best, it’s important to reflect and ask yourself:

“Where did I go wrong?”

After a bad grade on an exam, I evaluate my study methods by pondering the following questions:

• Did I study in a way that was effective, or did I waste time?
  • If I studied a lot and still did poorly on a fair exam, perhaps I have to review my study habits and find new methods that might work better.
• Did I leave myself enough time for the preparation?
  • If yes, did I use that time effectively? Why or why not?
    • I try to find the source of the procrastination and find ways to nip that in the bud next time (check out my anti-procrastination advice
  • If not: was there a way I could have gained more time (moved the exam, rearranged my schedule by cancelling things or calling out of work)? Or was there a better study approach that could have gotten me prepared in littler time?
• Should I have asked for help? Who could I have asked for help?

As the old saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20. Somewhere down the line in preparing for an exam, I’d made a mistake (or many) that resulted in my bad grade. My approach for dealing with a bad grade like this is to evaluate what I did right, what I did wrong, and then vow to do better. The past has happened and cannot be changed — the key is to learn from these mistakes.

My approach is to evaluate what I did wrong, and then vow to do better.

What if I didn’t go wrong…?

But what if it’s Scenario #2: you prepared well, you studied a lot, you knew your material … and yet, somehow, the exam did not go well. Maybe you got unlucky and was tested on all the wrong things? Maybe the test was filled with silly questions? Or maybe you got an oral examiner that you didn’t click with. 

For me, these types of bad grades are a lot more difficult to get over. I usually spend a day or two wallowing in self-pity, feeling wronged and questioning the justice of the universe. Needless to say, it’s not an enjoyable time, for me nor my poor loved ones.

My advice for getting over this type of bad grade is to look at what you got out of the exam. Maybe you didn’t get the grade you wanted or any recognition of your hard work… but if you did study a ton and prepare well, then you gained something that can’t be quantified by letter or number grades: KNOWLEDGE.

Ultimately, knowledge is what matters most

Even if your teachers don’t recognize it, your peers don’t see it, your parents don’t realize it: your knowledge is something that no one can ever take away from you. In the healthcare field, nay, in all fields, we are ultimately in school to learn. To learn to be good doctors, or lawyers, or vets, or teachers. A grade does not define how good we will be at our job, but our knowledge does. 

There’s a quote that often sits on my desk; you might’ve seen it if you follow me on Instagram. My boyfriend teases me, saying it’s corny, but I don’t mind, because for me, it serves as a constant reminder of what I strive for. Good grades certainly feel great, but not nearly as great as feeling like I’ve learned the material that I need to know to excel at my future job. I strive to study for the knowledge.

So, don’t let an unfair professor or a terrible exam take that feeling away from you.  

And please share some of your bad grade coping mechanisms with us below!

And if it’s motivation that you’re struggling with, maybe some of my tips might help.