What to do after a bad exam

1. **Eat and drink** something.<br><br>You need your stomach and your body to recover. Even if you don't feel like eating, eat something. Get some fresh air, go to the store to buy some food, or find a friend in the cafeteria.<br><br>Food helps you to recharge. Your brain works better when you are not starving.<br><br>2. **Write down** what went wrong.<br><br>Analyzing your mistakes and what went wrong helps in both the short and long term. In the short term, you can work on fixing mistakes before your next exam. In the long term, you can avoid making the same mistake again and again.<br><br>Make sure to also think about your inner drive. Often times, our internal motivation decides how much we study and how much we care about a specific subject.<br><br>3. **Talk to someone** you trust.<br><br>Maybe it's your best friend, your partner, your roommate, or your mom. Choose someone you trust and who knows you well.<br><br>They can fix your emotional state and help you to regain perspective. By reflecting on your relationship with your studies, you gain back control. The drive to prepare for the retake will come naturally to you.<br><br>4. **Take a short break.**<br><br>You need to feel better before you start studying again. Your inner drive is also connected to your well-being. However, don't take too long of a break. You need to get back on the horse. Taking too long of a break can also kill your motivation to study and cause you to fall even further behind.<br><br>Strategy - What to do after a bad exam<br><br>5. **Create your study plan.**<br><br>When you are in a good mental state, you can focus on planning your next steps. When you have a plan in place, you can focus your energy on studying. You can take a lot of pressure off your shoulders by knowing what to do and when to study.<br><br>6. **Review and practice** together.<br><br>You need to review what you didn't know and practice how you can apply your knowledge. The best way to practice is to do practise questions. Especially the kind that will appear on the exam<br><br>7. **Prepare at the right time.**<br><br>Find a good time to prepare for the exam or paper. This helps you to avoid burnout and study more effectively. You should prioritize the subjects with the next exam. You will have plenty of time to prepare for each exam when you study regularly. When you prepare too early, you risk forgetting too much because it's too long until the exam. You need to find the right balance.