University is hard, it takes a lot of self-motivation and sacrifices to get through, and unfortunately, it does mean that sometimes, things might not go the way you want them to. There’s nothing wrong with failing an exam so try not to feel bad about it. Instead, it’s time to move forward and prepare to pass your exam resits.
How to prepare for a resit
Although you might think that preparing for a resit is pretty much the same as studying for an exam, there are a few things you can do differently to increase your chances of passing. There are many factors to take into account when redoing an exam, and you must prepare thoroughly because you only get one other attempt.
- Past papers. Just like for regular exams, try to go through as many past papers as you can. This will give you an idea of what the structure of the exam will be and will prepare you for the worst. You might even get lucky and get similar questions in the actual resit exam. The best practice is to take past papers under real exam conditions and see how much you can score.
- Talk to your lecturer. You must meet up with your lecturer to go through the mistakes you made in your first attempt. Doing this will help you avoid making the same mistakes again in the resit and help you study more efficiently. Sometimes silly mistakes can drag your mark down so make sure you’re able to identify and avoid them in your second attempt.
- Videos are great! If you’re struggling with a particular subject, videos can be a great alternative to lecture notes. Listening to a real person talk about a complicated subject can make a huge difference especially if they use simple examples and break things down.
- Create a timetable. It may feel a bit depressing to study while most of your friends are on summer break, but you must stay focused and create a solid routine in order to stay on top of your revision. Make sure to dedicate a lot of time to your work and allow breaks between each session to make sure you’re not burning yourself out. Remember that you don’t want to fail a second time and stay motivated.
- Target specific topics. The topics that came up in the exam are less likely to come up a second time in the resit paper. Of course, you should definitely go over them and be prepared however, make sure to know all the other topics inside-out as they are more likely to come up. This can help a lot if you have a lot of things to remember.
Why resits aren’t as bad as you think
There is something about resits that make you feel like it’s the end of the world, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Having to retake an exam you’ve worked hard for can make you feel a lot of emotions at once. However, you should see it as a reflective opportunity and try your best to learn from the experience. Here are some reasons why resits might be beneficial to your growth.
- You will learn about yourself. Having to study for a resit usually comes with a lot of pressure; this will give you a better idea of how you deal with pressure and teach you to handle stressful situations in general. Thus, you must remain calm and focus on your objective despite the stress and pressure.
- You could become a pro at studying. Having to focus and study for a resit can help you improve your studying habits and turn you into a much better student. You’ll most likely want to avoid failing an exam again, and this will turn you into a more productive and organised person.
- A lot of people have to resit. You’ll be surprised how many people you see in the exam room. The truth is that retaking an exam is much more common than you think, so there is nothing to feel bad about. You’ll think back after a few years and realise that it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t feel bad about having to retake an exam, take it as an opportunity to learn and become a better student. Make sure you understand what went wrong and prepare thoroughly for the resit. Most importantly, you must work hard, take breaks to recharge, and stay motivated. Good luck!
