Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Stay calm in the moment
• Part 2 of 3: Looking for help to improve your grades
• Part 3 of 3: Pass the next test with flying colors
• Tips
• Warnings

It happens to everyone. The teacher returns a test or assignment you thought you had done right and your stomach turns. You have a bad grade, not even an average grade. The questions are starting to pour in. How will this change your average? How are you going to tell this to your parents? What grade will you eventually receive for this course? To get back on track and do better in the future, you want to be able to respond appropriately. Start with Step 1 to learn how to deal with a bad grade.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Stay calm in the moment

1. Let your panic pass quickly. If you get a bad grade and are not used to it, you can panic. Maybe you think you can't do it anymore and you have lost your intelligence, focus, your mojo. But that is usually not the case. Anyone can make a mistake now and then. In fact, it's the mistakes we make in life that really teach us who we are and how we can do even better next time.
   • Don't panic, because panic will cause stress and stress is not good for good grades. A recent study found that students who are very tense about important tests often do worse than students who remain calm.
2. Know that one bad grade won't ruin your school career. Your academic career consists of many different tests, not just those you take in class or the presentations you give. Your academic career depends on how well you get along with your teachers, the impact you have on your friends and, most importantly, the things you "learn". Judging the success of your academic career by looking at just a single number is like judging the success of a party after only one guest has arrived. It is not an accurate assumption.
3. To be on the safe side, make sure you go through your work for the test again and count your points. Make sure the teacher has not made a mistake counting the points or calculating your grade. Remember that even math teachers make counting mistakes!
   • If you do happen to find a mistake, double check that it is actually a mistake and find a time when you can talk to your teacher. Instead of accusing him or her of making a mistake ("You didn't calculate my grade correctly, I want the right grade!"), Try to be more understanding. Remember that you catch more flies with syrup than with vinegar. Try something like, "I think my grade is incorrect. Is this distribution of points correct? "
4. Carefully try to figure out what grades the other classmates got. You're likely to feel less bad about a six if the rest of the class hasn't done much better, because that was apparently the average. Be careful with this, though, because they may not want to talk about that, or they may want to know about yours.
   • Depending on the "standard" used by the teacher, the grades will be given taking into account the average of the entire class. So if the highest mark for a test was an 8, it could be a 9 and a 7, an 8.

Part 2 of 3: Looking for help to improve your grades

1. Listen to your teacher and talk about ways you can improve results. Teachers love it when students who get a bad grade show a willingness to learn and improve. That makes the teacher feel successful - that they are doing a good job. So if you go to a teacher after a bad grade and say something like "Hi Ms. Kowalski, I'm not happy with my grades on this test." Can we rerun the assignments I did not do well or talk about better preparation for future tests, "the teacher may pass out with satisfaction.
   • While you may find this difficult, consulting with your teacher can be beneficial:
     • The teacher can explain to you exercises you did not understand or the theory you are struggling with.
     • The teacher will see that you want to learn and can include this in your final grade.
     • The teacher can give you extra points for your work.
2. Ask for help from a fellow student who did the test correctly. It feels good to help other people, which is why many students who get high grades offer to help students who haven't. Just make sure you actually spend time studying and working on getting better, instead of messing around. And don't forget to try to choose someone you don't feel attracted to or secretly have a crush on - everyone knows how much will come of "studying" if you study along with an absolute piece.
3. Consider telling your parents you got a bad grade. While you may not need to tell your parents, it may very well be a good idea. Your parents care that you succeed. That's why they worry about a bad grade - not because they want to make you feel bad. Keeping this in mind will help you open up and hopefully that will make it a lot easier to get help.
   • Your parents can explain to you what you did wrong; they can hire a private tutor or tutor to help you; they can make an appointment with your teacher (even though this is unusual after just one bad grade) to learn how to get better grades.

Part 3 of 3: Pass the next test with flying colors

1. Study effectively, no longer. Many people think that studying the right way means studying for a long time. That is not always the case. Studying purposefully and with enthusiasm usually wins over long hours.
2. Write your notes with pen and paper instead of on a computer or laptop. Studies have shown that writing with pen and paper improves your memory compared to simply typing it out on a computer. That's because the act of writing letters and numbers with a pen activates the motor memory in your brain. Better motor memory means a better overall memory of what your notes are about.
3. Take a study break now and then to refresh your memory. 10 minute study breaks per hour can be helpful in memorizing and learning your material. So take a walk, play with your dog, or call your best friend and confidant for ten minutes before returning to college.
4. Take practice tests prior to the actual test. Practice tests are very helpful if you can find them. They give you a good idea of ​​how well you are doing and which material or exercises you have to work on. Practice makes perfect!
5. Don't try to block. Make sure you don't study for an exam, if you can avoid that for a while. Blocks makes you tired, gives you a weaker understanding of the material, and sometimes an over-confidence in how well you will do.
6. Try to sleep well the night before the test. Research shows that for every hour of nighttime sleep loss, the risk of psychological stress increases by 14%. That's not necessarily a problem until you realize that stress affects your school performance. So make sure you get a good night's sleep at least a few nights before the important test to give yourself the best chance of success.
7. Make sure you have a good breakfast before the test. Your brain and body need fuel to do well on the test. So an excellent breakfast in preparation is a major priority that should not be overlooked. Eat low-sugar cereals, whole wheat bread, yogurt and muesli, as well as oatmeal and fresh fruit, to give your body all the energy to eccelate.

Tips

• Keep trying. The main difference between high and low performance students is that one learns from his mistakes, while the other gives up. DO NOT GIVE UP! Everyone makes mistakes, but the "good" student will not be put off by a miss.
• Consider this a learning experience. One day you may be telling your children or grandchildren how to deal with these kinds of situations!
• If you feel particularly upset or irritated, revisit the good grades you've gotten in the past.
• If the grade is really bad and you need to get it signed, don't make a lame excuse as that can only get you in even bigger trouble.

Warnings

• Don't be ignorant or joke about telling your parents.