It can be very disheartening to see a lower score on a test than you expected. You did everything you could to prepare: you paid attention in class, and you tried your best to fully understand the material… but your score doesn’t seem to reflect how much work you’ve done.

Don’t let this result discourage you. A single test will most likely not significantly hurt your overall year-long grade. So, view this as an opportunity to learn what weaknesses you have to focus on next time.

Look through the test and see if you can recognize any patterns in the types of questions marked incorrect. If it was a math test, you might notice that you kept dropping the negative sign or reducing irreducible fractions. If it was a history test, you may notice more points being taken off on short answer responses. Whatever the patterns were, write them down. These patterns signify the specific areas you need to focus on–the opportunities you have to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

I recommend meeting with the teacher. They create the tests; they’re the best resource to help you learn from your mistakes. Every teacher is more than happy to review your test with you and suggest strategies for the future, so never hesitate to reach out to them. In fact, they’ll probably be impressed by your drive to grow from your mistakes.

When you meet with your teacher, ask questions; how much detail do they expect in written answers, what keywords you should pay attention to in questions, or what resources you could use to practice. Since you now know the patterns in your mistakes, your goal is to gain as many insights and tips as possible. And don’t fear admitting to your knowledge gaps; all teachers I’ve met are more impressed with progress than a know-it-all.

Last but never least, know that your intelligence and growth is reflected not by your test score, but by your reaction to it. While you are responsible to strive for growth, you are not a failure for making mistakes–only human.

Yours,

Ellie