Failure of a student

LegacyUser

Hi everyone,

I posted here a couple of months ago about an exam I failed and I got really nice advice so thought I would ask another question . Basically I'm in final year and I failed one of my final exams, was allowed to repeat it and failed again.

I've been told I can repeat the exam now in July or so, but my lecturer said she wouldn't recommend this as I've been so stressed about the whole thing and that I should apply to just repeat this one exam next year. This is a process that would literally not take that long (as in say a month to study for the exam and then just a day of sitting it, but she said I might have to commit to be available over the year, because of scheduling issues. If I was to repeat in July, it would be just the standard exam again. I've told college that I'll likely follow their advice and do the exam again next year but I haven't committed to anything/filled in any paperwork.

My issue is that I've been offered a full time job abroad for the year. I have a level 7 degree already and this is the minimum qualification for the job. I'm starting to feel like maybe there's no point in repeating the exam and getting the level 8 degree? I studied hard for it the first 2 times and couldn't manage to pass it, college have said they'd be able to offer me a lot of support which should enable me to pass it but I don't know if this will be enough as I just have such a mental block developed about the whole thing, and I feel I'm not good enough to pass it. I don't want to work in the area which my degree is in and have another degree in mind that I'd like to do, but would have to work for a few years to save up to do this either way. I know my grades won't be good enough to get into a masters in this area as its very competitive and my degree is totally unrelated. I'd also like to get some voluntary experience in the area to make sure it is right for me.

i feel like the only reason I want to repeat the exam is to prove to myself that I'm capable of getting a level 8 degree and just to have a level 8 degree like most people, but maybe I would just be better off working with the level 7 degree and moving on with my life? I see everyone around me getting firsts and masters and graduate degrees and I don't know what's wrong with me that I can't achieve this. I know I'm not stupid but I don't know why I don't seem to be able to prove this.

Thanks for reading, sorry this is such a long rant

castaway_lady

Can you do the July repeat before moving for the job? If you can throw yourself into attempting that for the few weeks and go hell for leather at the material and past exam papers and have a last go then why not?

You have a level 7 which is great, you have attained a job which is the overall outcome aim anyway so in that case the level 8 would be a bonus. If you really do have to wait the year then Id say go with the job. You could always wait for that other degree and see how you feel about that in the future or look at upgrading by distance learning/open uni somewhere.

Work experience now will most likely be more valuable in terms of your cv and opportunities in the short to medium term. But if the level 8 possibility is only a few weeks away then go for it and if works out then "bonus" if not then get stuck into career land.

dellas1979

Depends how much you want to do it.

If you want to pass it, and If the time is permitting, Id go hell for leather and hammer and tongs to pass the exam in July. Al ot of the information you previously learned will be in your memory.

Youve got the fear. Big time. Which is causing the block. The worst that can happen is you fail. The best thing that can happen, with preparation, is that you can pass.

But I also would mentally prepare myself. If you decide to repeat in July, sign up/register, then take a few days off around now, maybe 4/5, do something nice for yourself. The last day, draw up a study plan. And Id also take up an exercise regimen, so that you can run/walk/lift those anxieties away (and take 'em out on a punch bag).

Be logical and consistent. If you feel you dont need the qualification, fine. But dont run away.

LegacyUser

dellas1979 wrote: »

Youve got the fear. Big time. Which is causing the block. The worst that can happen is you fail. The best thing that can happen, with preparation, is that you can pass.

Thanks to you both for the replies. The quote here is exactly why I want to push for the level 8, but I don't know if it's only trying to not be afraid that's keeping me wanting to do it?

The other issue is that although I can't know my grade for the level 8 unless I actually get a level 8, because the module for this exam will be capped at 40% I know it's going to be lower than the results for the level 7 and maybe significantly lower? I don't know if this would be looked on less favourably by employers I.e. A third in an honours degree better than a 2.1 in an ordinary degree?

I don't want to go against my lecturers advice to repeat in July either cause I'm worried this could go against me if I were to fail again? Or do ye think I'm being ridiculous about this?

SF12

You rarely regret the things you do, but you often regret the things you don't do.

I'm going to be logical here OP, but bear in mind I don't know you and your anxiety (although I do know someone very close to me that practically has a breakdown at every set of exams, so I have a small idea of what happens to you). I also don't know what field you're in.

Firstly - the level 7 vs level 8 thing. I've been looking for jobs on and off for the past few years, and the first thing that you should consider is that many jobs look for an honours degree. Regardless of what the mark is, if you don't have the honours degree, your CV often won't make it past the reception desk. Companies will have certain requirements in their job specs - you may not meet all of them but there will be some that are the absolute basic minimum, and an hons degree is often one of those. So have a think about what that might mean for you in terms of work.

Nobody really wants to do exams. It's the third time you're doing it, probably even just the effort of doing it again is putting you off too Personally if I were you, I'd go for in July, because - in my mind - it has the effect of ripping off a bandage....you hit it, get it done, and you know in the next couple of months where you stand, rather than letting it drag out for the next year. I wouldn't worry too much about going against your lecturer's advice - at the end of the day, you're an adult and can make the decisions yourself. I'm not sure how dragging it out over the year would help the situation from an anxiety viewpoint, other than to give you more time to worry about it. Having said that, you know yourself what workload is required and you do need to consider whether you can get it covered in the next month or so.

Don't worry about what everyone else has. I'm 10 years out of college, and all my friends have retrained and changed careers in the last few years. Original degrees and Masters have gone out the window for the most part I'm not convinced about doing a Masters straight out of college to be honest, I think you can't possibly know what you will do with your life, where it will take you and what sort of Masters might suit better further down the road. Please try not to measure yourself against other people. If you end up taking the job abroad, your qualifications (and theirs) will be forgotten in the conversation around that. Once you get into the world of work, experience begins to outweigh your primary qualification after a few years.

As someone else said - you have the fear. If you've passed every other exam along the way, then there's no reason you can't pass this one. When you just have the one to concentrate on, it focuses the mind a lot better. The stuff should be fresh in your head and hopefully, with a bit more time, you'll get your head around it. At times like this, the title of a self-help book often occurs to me "Feel the fear and do it anyway"

Best of luck in your choice.

MrWalsh

Whats the difference between a level 7 and a level 8 degree?

I ask because in my original degree I got a 2:2 and now, 20 years later, I simply have the degree listed on my CV with no grade, the grade becomes irrelevant once there is some work experience behind you.

OP -

Honestly you have a job. This is the ultimate goal of anyone in college. Is there any other reason to complete your last exam bar one of a moral victory? The way I see it is that you already have the level 7 - most jobs would require that and most jobs that would require a higher degree often replace that in lieu of experience.

Rubberchikken

if there was any way you could study really hard and repeat the exam in july before starting the job, i'd say go for it.
what do you have to lose.
wth a determined effort you'll pass. then you can let it go, while having a level 8 degree, and focus on your new job in a new place.

good luck with whatever you decide.

SATSUMA

I suggest going to see a therapist... what you decide is up to you but perhaps it would be nice to actually get to the bottom of the fear? You decision will be based on fear otherwise. If you got yourself in such a mess it could well happen in another area of your life at another time. This could be a great opportunity for you to understand yourself better and may be resolved quickly and easily with the right guidance.

Best of luck.

silverfeather

You rarely regret the things you do, but you often regret the things you don't do.

With education I think this is doubly true.

captainfrost

If it was me, i would take the exam this July and i will try all my possible best to pass it, no distraction or anything. It just and exam if you read you will pass.
Then no matter the outcome i would take the job abroad, of the pay and experience it worth it.