It is always unpleasant to receive a lower grade than expected, but you shouldn't be disheartened. If you handle the situation right, you can learn from your mistakes and become a brighter student (and person).
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Accepting the Bad Grade
Step 1. Don't be too hard on yourself
Getting a bad grade isn't the end of the world - don't think it represents how much you're worth in school overall. The mere fact that you are worried shows that you are motivated and have high expectations for yourself.
Remember that usually "5" is insufficient, "6" is full enough, "7" is fair and "8" is good. Putting the grade you took into proper perspective, maybe it's not as bad as you thought
Step 2. Take the time you need to process your reaction
You may feel anxious, frustrated, or even confused. Not a problem if you get nervous. Try to let off steam. If you repress what you are feeling, you will only feel worse in the long run.
Step 3. Distance yourself from the situation
Ruminating further while in an altered emotional state will only make the problem worse. So, try to distract yourself.
To relieve anxiety in a healthy way, you can play sports, talk with friends, listen to some music or do something fun
Part 2 of 3: Understanding What Went Wrong
Step 1. Identify your mistakes
If you can find a pattern that causes you to always fall into the same mistakes, you will be able to isolate the critical factors and address them better.
- Is there a subject, like math or English, where you don't do well? In this case, study it more closely.
- Was there a series of questions during a written assignment that you were unable to answer? In this case, try to sort them and figure out which topic you should learn more about.
- Have you been late to class lately? In this case, try to be more on time.
Step 2. Ask the teacher for an opinion
He'll know your strengths and shortcomings, so don't be afraid to ask him for a hand.
Instead of asking, "Why did I get a bad grade?", Try "How can I rephrase my answers to improve my performance?"
Step 3. Ask your classmates for advice
Ask if they are willing to tell you what grades they have received. If they have all been nearly similar, perhaps the problem is a general lack of acquisition of certain concepts. If their grades are higher than yours, ask what study methods you could use to improve your academic performance.
Sometimes professors round up their grades when large numbers of students run into difficulties. If in the general economy of the class many classmates got a low grade, the situation is probably not as bad as you thought and, in light of this data, you can feel more comfortable
Part 3 of 3: Organizing for the Future
Step 1. Commit if you have decided to improve
Once you have identified the subjects or topics to be explored, you can take some corrective measures. If necessary, make positive changes in your life.
- Write a study program and follow it regularly. You will be able to significantly reduce anxiety and improve your performance.
- Get more sleep. The amount of sleep significantly affects mood and the ability to assimilate and remember information.
- Don't procrastinate.
- Eliminate distractions. Prioritize the most important things.
Step 2. Look for opportunities to recover
Often teachers just want to see if their students are willing to apply themselves harder. Ask the professors if they offer you the opportunity to improve your performance by assigning you other tasks. If you can't change a bad grade, maybe you can get it back.
Step 3. Keep in mind the resources you have available
Private lessons, student reception hours and study groups allow you to get back on track. Consider reorganizing the way you are used to studying by taking advantage of some of these resources.
Step 4. Go ahead
While you can't change your grade, you can do whatever it takes to improve. Try to consider this episode as a learning experience. Be lenient with yourself about the mistakes you've made - a bad grade won't determine your future or classify your readiness to study.
