Failed exam in final year

LegacyUser

I've just failed one of my final year exams, it was a practical/oral exam. I just feel so so so low and crap.

I've been getting basically terrible feedback on how I'm getting on for four years of this course, was always so so nervous and really struggled to do well and succeed, especially on placements and with practicals. This year I was getting on so much better with these practical things, went to a couple of sessions with a counsellor and while I didn't find him that helpful at the time, I think it probably was useful. I've also been so much luckier on placement this year, whereas in other years I did genuinely get very unlucky. everyone has been so nice and it's generally been more relaxed and I've just felt like I wasn't the best, but I was getting on ok.
I just feel so devastated to think that I can't even manage to pass exams even when I think it's going well, I've passed exams up to now, but I think given it's final year they couldn't let me slip by, I suppose? Maybe up to now I've been getting through practicals through goodwill, I don't know.

I don't know what specific advice I want I just feel so terrible and wanted to talk to someone, don't know where to turn. I can repeat the exam but I don't know if I will ever manage to pass it. I also massively embarrassed myself and was almost hysterical in front of my lecturer and placement coordinator so I probably will never get a reference from them and I'm sure they think so lowly of me. I feel as if,I should just stop trying.

Rubberchikken

Sorry you're feeling down at the moment
The lecturerwon 't give any thought to how you responded to the news, people fail people pass. It goes with the job.

Whatever you do don't let embarrassment stop you retaking the exam and getting on with hour life

Best of luck

MrWalsh

We'll you know, everyone has bad exams from time to time. It's only one exam, it doesn't represent all of your work or abilities.

And you can definitely pass it again, particularly now you know exactly where it went wrong for you! I can tell you that you haven't been passing on goodwill. That doesn't happen.

There is no need to be at all embarrassed over being upset in front of your lecturer and placement coordinator, they'd be well used to emotional reactions of all kinds and they won't be thinking badly of you at all! In fact I'm sure they want to help you however they can.

So, you had a ****ty exam and you were upset. It happens. Try to shake it off and stay positive. You'll look back at this someday and it'll just be a memory of a bump in the road that didn't change anything in the long run!

thegreatgonzo

MrWalsh wrote: »

I can tell you that you haven't been passing on goodwill. That doesn't happen.

This is very true.

I did a course that had a large practical element and the pressure around exam time was quite intense as we were locked up in a room before hand and brought out in batches to do the exam. The failure rate was usually about 25-30% so quite high.
At the final practical exam we did before qualification there were girls we'd never seen before, these were students who had left the college a couple of years before but were repeating this one final practical for the 3rd or 4th time. A girl in the year behind me broke down crying in the middle of hers and ran out of the room. She passed the repeat though .
So my point is is that it is very common in all sorts of courses that people have to repeat and maybe repeat several times before they get there. Don't treat the exam as if it something bigger than you, it really isn't.
Prepare as much as you can and if necessary seek help about controlling your nerves, I once went to a hypnotherapist for a couple of sessions for this reason and I found it helpful.

LegacyUser

Hi op here,

Thanks so much for the advice. I'm just feeling so hopeless, like I understand that it makes no sense to not try repeat the exam and to let this affect me so deeply but I just feel like I know this, but I can't really see this.

There is nothing of value I have to offer the world, like I've been working for years on this course and I' can't even do the most basic of tasks and I feel like I have no other skills or talents, there's no job i would be good at. I've no talents I keep making mental lists of everything I'm no good at.I know how pathetic this is.

Rubberchikken

You fee miserable at the moment. I've been there. We all have. The thing is as each day passes that feeling will subside. Then you have to decide what you want to do.

With determination and hard work you can do what you set your mind to.

Good luck

Littlekittylou

The word exam is simply one word in a whole course. Of course you want and need to pass and you will. But it's really about what you learn.

Focus on how good it will feel when you get to practice what you have learnt.

It's all about learning.

thegreatgonzo

Argghhh wrote: »

There is nothing of value I have to offer the world, like I've been working for years on this course and I' can't even do the most basic of tasks and I feel like I have no other skills or talents, there's no job i would be good at. I've no talents I keep making mental lists of everything I'm no good at.I know how pathetic this is.

You are your own worst enemy at the moment and it sounds like you have got into a habit of thinking negative things about yourself and your abilities.
You are in your final year so your lecturers obviously thought you were competent enough to allow you to proceed. Don't underestimate this. If your course is like mine your lecturers wouldn't pass you unless you reached a certain standard as it would reflect badly on them if you were let loose on an unsuspecting workforce without being able to do the most basic of tasks you mention.
You need to break the habit of negative thinking as it's holding you back. Then look at practical ways you can help yourself. Like if there is a particular skill you need more practice at is there any way you can get it through volunteering or something?
Also people respect people who persevere through setbacks so don't think you have lost any chance of a good reference from your lecturers etc. They will be delighted for you when you finally succeed.