How do you cope with a bad grade in a core course where you thought you did well?

College Life
1

<p>Just received back the first exam of one of the core courses of my second major. It wasn’t even that hard, 25 multiple choice questions. </p>

<p>Coming out of the exam I thought I did great, with only 1 or 2 questions I didn’t know. The grades were posted and I got a 60%…</p>

<p>This is giving me a headache…I don’t know how I could have done so bad on a simple test. Besides going to office hours to see what I did wrong…what cognitive or mental techniques should I use to cope with this grade?</p>

<p>This was 20% of the grade…</p>

2

<p>Use it as incentive to learn the material a bit better, go to office hours, look over exams from previous iterations of the course, whatever.</p>

<p>As for the exam, assuming the class isn’t curved, remember that you’re not totally screwed (yet), technically you could still get an A.</p>

3

<p>I try to never let bad grades get to me - brush them off and move on. That’s not the same as ignoring them though. If I got a bad grade on something I find something specific I can improve on like studying economic formulas or the right way to record a liability transaction in accounting. Focusing on the little things makes it a lot less overwhelming and focuses the bad grade more on the work than you personally.</p>

4

<p>Actually just happened to me too. I have this anxiety during tests or quizes or whatever that I feel overwhelmed and my brain just doesn’t seem to function properly. It has affected my GPA but idk usually I tell myself I’ll work harder and never underestimate the test, ever. Because see, that’s what u might have done.</p>