Dealing With A Bad Grade Or Negative Thoughts:

Dealing with a bad grade or negative thoughts:

I have had a huge number of messages and inboxes asking about how to deal with a bad grade, or how to feel better about the fact that they have to much work to do/think they are going to fail their exams. I thought I’d make a post addressing this, in the hope that it will be helpful to some of you :)

DEALING WITH A BAD GRADE:

The first thing you have to do is to accept that you have got the grade you have gotten - whether that is a B instead of your usual A, or it is a fail grade.

Try and analyse why you got that grade. Is it something as simple as not working hard for that assignment? Or did you work hard and still not achieve the grade you wanted - then the issue might be exam technique, timing etc.

It is so important to talk in this situation. Talk to your teachers about the grade you got, and about how to improve - do they think this is a one off? Or is there something they can do to help if they think you might be struggling with the material. The worst thing you can do is to deny the grade and just withdraw yourself.

As hard as it sounds, look at this ‘bad’ grade as something good. Take this opportunity to learn from any mistakes you might have made. Correct the paper you didn’t do well in so that it is up to full marks, try and see exactly why you didn’t get the marks you missed.

Then start working on an action plan of how to do better next time. The worst thing to do would be to stall completely and get focused on this one bad grade. If you focus too much on it then you won’t be able to progress and learn from what you did wrong. Instead of focusing on the fact that you got a bad grade, look forward to the next test and be determined to smash it!

If you are in the position that this isn’t a one off, and you are finding a particular subject and its exams very hard, maybe you should looking at getting a tutor? Talk to your teachers to see if they can give you extra questions, or one-to-one sessions during lunch/after-school. Your teachers want to help you, so utilise them.

Changing your attitude and thinking positively:

A lot of you have sent me messages telling me that you are scared to fail, or that you are sure that the work you’re doing won’t pay off etc. In cases like this I think it’s you attitudes that need to change.

If you take the stand that you will fail your exams, that because you are getting bad grades now you’ll obviously fail in summer so there’s no point even trying etc. etc. of course you aren’y going to do well! You need to think positively in order to succeed.

Start telling yourself that you will succeed, that you will pass, that you are good enough - even if you don’t believe it at first. If you keep that mantra going around your head, your attitude will shift and you will start feeling better about your situation.

Don’t dwell on the past - on grades you have got earlier in the term etc. just keep focused on the future, and the things you have to do in order to get where you want to go.

Keep reminding yourself of your goals and aspirations. If ever you are feeling unmotivated or in doubt of yourself, remember what you want to achieve and think about what you have to do to get there, and how much you want to get there - this will help motivate you and empower you.

Remember that bad grades do not define you. You are worth so much more than some letters on a piece of paper, so make sure you are happy and healthy before you start worrying about a bad grade. Good luck all of you! :)

More Posts from Underhill2 and Others

underhill2

5 years ago

ap classes can be super stressful, especially if you’re taking multiple. here’s the best advice i have on being successful in them after surviving high school! also, please feel free to add any advice in the reblogs or comments<3 thank you!

• read your textbook (and take notes!!) i quickly learned that i did so much better in a class when i had done the textbook readings for each chapter. usually teachers go about a chapter a week, which isn’t super tough to keep up with if you divide it into chunks (i’ll make a post soon on how i took notes from the textbook)

• do your homework, and do it well. some nights, your homework will be a lot. but you really should do as much of it as you can. (i’m emphasizing this for math classes because math homework is usually super similar to what you’ll see on the test, but it is important review for every class). Work with the book next to you, use khan academy, mark questions that you need help with (and get help), and do it on time. your grades will thank you, and so will your teacher!!

• my strategy to review for in class tests:

1.) review vocabulary using flash cards or quizlet (i’d actually recommend making quizlets for each chapter so u can use it to review for the ap test later)

2.) use your notes or textbook summaries to create your own summaries of the current chapter(s) on blank pieces of paper (take notes on your notes, explain important concepts/main ideas, write down important dates/people/equations, include practice problems for math/science courses) (keep these summary pages in a folder & organized for when you’re reviewing for the ap test)

3.) know how to explain all of the concepts (either out loud or in writing) without looking at the textbook for answers. (i usually try to answer the textbook’s essential questions/ section questions using as much concrete evidence as possible to prove the answer)

(do this over 3 separate days AT LEAST for in class tests (day one vocab, day two create summaries of chapters, day three explain chapters outloud), and over several weeks for the ap test)

• DO! NOT! PROCRASTINATE!

literally everyone says this, but seriously do not procrastinate and high school won’t be as miserable for you as it is for other people. do your homework on time, divide your note taking into different days, plan ahead, do work right as you get home or during class.

• talk to your teacher if you’re seriously struggling with the work load, and let them know if you’re going through a hard time in life and it’s affecting your school work. this can be scary, but usually they don’t want you to want to die! so just let them know, and they’ll give you advice / help with it and will support you. communication is so important.

possible structure for an email to communicate an issue with them:

“hi _____(teachers name)_____,

i’m having a hard time completing my work recently because of (reason why, be honest). is it okay if i can have an extension until (date in the near future that you can turn it in and please stick to this date btw) (please)?

thank you, __(your name)__”

(just for more explanation: my dog died in march during my senior year. i emailed my ap environmental science teacher, my ap statistics teacher, and my ap lit teacher the same email: “hi, my dog died today and i’m having a hard time concentrating on my work, so i won’t be able to finish it today. may i have an extension for my work this week until (day i knew i could turn it in abt a week later)? thank you! -jillian” they all were understanding and gave me an extension. i said the same thing when my aunt died, and the same thing when i was in the hospital after a long boarding accident. i also let teachers know during junior year when i was having anxiety, or during first sem senior year when i was working heavy hours)

• limit the amount of ap classes you take, and only take classes that you’re interested in. i know colleges “like ap classes,” but they also like mentally sane students, students that sleep, well rounded students, students with decent gpas, etc. just in my opinion, you’ll be so much happier and more successful if you only take 1-3 ap classes that you’re truly interested in. (i took 1 my sophomore year, 3 junior year, and 3 senior year. my rule was to never take more than 3 because that’s the most that i could still get all a’s in without suffering. but know yourself and your limits)

2K notes View Post

underhill2

6 years ago

The Ultimate Study Resource Masterlist

I’ll continue the list as I find more links

Revision

Last Minute Revision Tips

Revising for Exams

How to Revise Algebra

(GCSE) English Language Revision

Mindmaps for Essay Based Subjucts(English, etc)

Revision Techniques for Different Learning Styles

Alkynesofstudy’s Revision Tips by @alkynesofstudy

Note Taking

Useful Symbols and Abreviations for Faster Lecture Note Taking by @studyquirk

How to Maintain Good Notes by @skeletonstudy

Active Reading and Textbook Note Taking by @studyquirk

Exams and Light Note Taking by @goddesszilla

The Cornell Method by @eyeofravenclaw

Guide to Aesthetically Pleasing Notes by @areistotle

Upgrade Your Notes - Masterpost by @studylou

Math

Math Resource Masterlist(Links to Revision, Test, Exam, and Notetaking Tips)

Biology

Khan Academy:

1. Biology

2. High School Biology

3. AP Biology

CrashCourse Biology

Chemistry

Khan Academy

CrashCourse Chemistry

English/Literature/Writing

Academic Phrase Bank Masterpost by @jwstudying

Guide to Writing Papers by @universi-tea

Planning Out a Paper by @samsstudygram

How to Annotate a Novel Efficiently by @mildstudies

Essay Basics for AP English Lang & Lit by @novanovelist

Writing an Academic Essay (Tips and Advice) by @suhylastudies

Substitutes for “And” by @englitmotivation

Synonyms for “Suggests” in Essays by @justkeeprevising

Synonyms for “Consider” by @justkeeprevising

How to Write Commentary on Both Prose Fiction and Poetry by @smartspo

Types of Narration by @literally-studying

AP English Language Study Guide by @acedemic

Tips for The Literature Student by @a-students-lifebuoy

History

How to Write a History Paper by @thehistorygrad

Tips for Studying History by @universtudy

Tips to SLAY Your AP History Essays by @apeurostudymaterials

Tips for History Class by @night-studying

How to Write an Essay: History Edition by @ccllege

Evaluating Historical Sources by @smartstudy

A note:

If I miscredited any of the links, or if you find a broken link please let me know!

958 notes View Post

underhill2

6 years ago

FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT you are allowed to feel proud of yourself for things that might seem silly to other people, like getting better at a video game or putting together a nice outfit for the next morning or finishing a book. You deserve to feel proud for your accomplishment.

HOW TO STUDY A DIFFICULT SUBJECT?

STEP ONE, ALWAYS, is MINDSET.

Eliminate “can’t understand” from your vocabulary. Transform it to “will find out”. This way you open your mind to accepting new information, without it hitting the wall inside your mind that would have said, “Can’t. It’s too much. It’s too difficult.”

Appreciate the fact that you get the opportunity to learn the amazing science to know the world at an elemental level.

Remember that no one is born with knowledge, we all learn it, some topics just take a little longer, esp if were aren’t that familiar with the related concepts. Don’t compare the fact that others in your class are learning things at a different speed. Because you’re living your own journey. You’re in a lane of your own.

So allow yourself to spend extra time exploring the topic. There are two parts to learning: understanding and memorising. This helps with the understanding.

Familiarise yourself with the concept from various points of view, not just the way the teacher is teaching it. Because often the way you are taught something can make something seem more difficult, vs a teacher who really takes the time to make it seem easy.

Take the time to learn the basics.

Find other ways to learn the same info. Have multiple sources of info: YOUTUBE (helped me personally), textbooks, google the topic.

Ask a fellow student who knows it better and ask them to talk about some of the points with you.

Relate what you learn and see how they impact and exist in the real world - turn it more practical, beyond theory. Connect it with other disciplines.

Read the textbook - slowly. Give yourself time to understand it esp the early paragraphs

Practice the questions at your own pace allowing yourself to see how it works.

1K notes View Post

underhill2

4 years ago

“who hurt you?” bro all these assignments

17K notes View Post

underhill2