David Wang | Staff Illustrator

“I failed my first two chem quizzes and absolutely bombed my calculus test. I don’t know what to do! I used to be such a good test-taker, and school came easily to me. Now, the imposter syndrome is taking over, and I feel like I’m going to fail at everything. I don’t know what to do or think anymore.” 

— Frustrated First-Year

Dear Frustrated First-Year,

Midterms. A rite of passage that, for some reason, we go through for months at a time, year after year. Even the most prepared student will fall prey to a tricky quiz or a challenging exam. And at a rigorous school like WashU, you will come across many, many others who have failed an exam. Ask your RAs, WUSAs, any upperclassmen, and (if you’re brave enough) your professors — every person at this school has failed at something at some point in their lives. You are not alone.

So, repeat after me: “I am not an imposter. I am capable, intelligent, and good at (add in something you are good at).” Now, here are three simple steps to get back on your feet after an awful exam: 

Step 1: Did you try your best?

It’s trite and repetitive, but it’s true: All you can do is your best. I have walked out of many exams where I felt awful, like an imposter and like I was doomed to drop out. But, after I took a breath and sat with my thoughts for a second, I realized the most important thing: I did the best I could in the moment, and that was more than enough for that exam. 

If you feel like you didn’t try your best, or if you feel like your best could be better, look at what you did leading up to the exam. If you weren’t well-fed with nutritious food, well-rested with the seemingly impossible eight hours of beauty rest, or well-taken-care-of in any general way (taking time for yourself is important), it’s hard to be set up to succeed. 

Step 2: Prepare.

Once you’ve processed the exam and are feeling a bit better, it’s time to start looking at how to improve for the next. Look back at if you studied in a way that worked for you. If you feel like you didn’t, just like I didn’t at the beginning of my college career, then I suggest the following:

First, a change of scenery is always nice. Where you study is important. Everyone at this school worked hard to find their study spots, but I work smarter, not harder, so here are a few spots I stole from others: the East Asian Library, the Lopata Great Hall balcony, a Bear’s Den booth (exclusively past 9 p.m.), and basically any floor of Olin, depending on your needs. And many, many people go to the study rooms on their residential college floor. It might take some trial and error, so be willing to move around until you find a spot that really works for you. 

Second, think about who you study with, or whether you work better with people studying the same subject as you. Try reaching out to the group of randos you sit by in lecture, and set up a study time. I have a study buddy from my chemistry class that I meet with every Sunday night, and we text each other when we have questions throughout the week. 

There are also days where you just have to walk the lonely road and set off on an hours-long study session alone. Some people work best when they are on their own, no matter what day it is. Studying alone has its own virtues: more freedom on subject and length of your session, and more control over where you work.

Finally, how are you living in these conditions? I personally need to have the AC at a crisp 70, my left Airpod playing video-game soundtracks, and water nearby before I can even think about approaching calculus homework. Figuring out what you need for locking in is vital. I recommend a drink, a snack, and some kind of noise. You might work best at a desk, wearing what you wore to class while playing 2000s pop, or you might work best in a three-piece suit on a lawn chair outside, listening to white noise. Figure out what makes your brain click, because that will set you up for a solid study session. 

Step 3: Make the most of your resources.

If you are still struggling after troubleshooting your environment, remember you are not on your own. If you haven’t checked them out already, there are a ton of resources on campus for you to take advantage of. Office hours are a good way to both get some of your pressing questions answered and to meet your professors. I learn better from people I’ve gotten to know. And your professor might have a key bit of knowledge that helps a tricky topic click. 

Many classes also have additional resources. Make use of resources, like PLTL or Matched Academic Mentoring, that were built to support students, including you. Other resources, like the Learning Center, can help you figure out what additional resources are available for your classes and help you learn proper study techniques leading up to exams.

Despite how scary it feels to ask for help, many of these sources will have a resource that they can’t wait to share. Some classes host exam review sessions or will post review guidelines, so take advantage of them by going to sessions and asking questions that you found while studying or reviewing pertinent topics. Even if you haven’t worked up the courage to ask a question yourself, someone else might ask a question that clears something up for you. 

Step 4 (the secret one): the Wicked and Evil meter

This is my personal last step. The end all, be all. I ask myself: Was that one question I got stuck on wicked and evil?

The answer might be “Yes,” and if you hear other people talking about the question in the lecture hall, it’s definitely “Yes.” Sometimes, you are asked a random question completely out of nowhere. There is no amount of preparation that can prepare you for a question out of left field. And that’s a reality we have to deal with. So, don’t let a wicked and evil question get to you. Give yourself some grace — sometimes questions are simply unfair. 

What you can do is go back over that question with the answer key — or the professor, if you have to — and figure out how to approach a wicked and evil question. Learning from your past mistakes is just as valuable as studying new material. Your thinking process for a previous hard question can make all the difference in the future. And when you are faced with another wicked and evil question, you will know how the professor expects you to approach these problems, and you will have a better chance of getting a higher score on your next exam.

After you have gone through your troubleshooting and worked on your mindset, there is one last thing to remember: You are not defined by your grades. One (or a few) hard exams won’t ruin everything, even if it may feel like it now. One day, you will have completely forgotten about it and moved on with your life… until a first-year asks you if you’ve ever failed an exam.

From your academic cheerleaders, 

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