After the exam

Well, the exam is finally over! Depending on how you think you performed in the exam, you might be feeling pleased, or maybe disappointed. Most students feel a sense of relief, no matter what!

Take the time to relax and unwind. "Debrief" with classmates, hang out with friends, or spend some quiet time with your family. You might even want to phone or email them, if they are overseas or some distance away. Many students just want to go home and sleep! Try not to party too hard if you have other exams coming up - save it for the final exam!

If you were disappointed with your performance in the exam, realize that you cannot change the outcome by making yourself miserable. Don't get upset unless you have good evidence that you performed poorly; after all, it would be foolish to ruin an opportunity to relax, especially if it turns out that you performed better than you imagined. You might be best advised to wait until you receive your grade.

What can you do if you fail the exam? Firstly, blaming yourself, or feeling angry about the results, is futile and irrational. Instead, try to react in a constructive way: for example, you could ask your Course Coordinator for some feedback.

Students whose performance in a final exam or assessment is adversely affected by illness or traumatic circumstances can apply for Special Consideration, but there are two things to consider. Firstly, you would need to provide very convincing documentary evidence to support your application, such as a current medical certificate, or a police report reference. Secondly, such an application can have four possible outcomes: (1) it can be refused; (2) you may be asked to sit a deferred exam; (3) you may be asked to do an alternative assignment; or (4) your grades may be adjusted.

Where supplementary assessment is approved by your school, you may be offered the opportunity to gain a supplementary pass. This is only available to students who have performed well throughout the study period, but obtained a final grade of F1 due to their performance in the exam.

For further information, see Section 7 of the Assessment Policies and Procedures Manual 2009.

Good luck with your results!

Helen Reeves (Counsellor) and Kirsten Wahlstrom (Learning Adviser)