Midterms either ruined your spring break or made it that much more enjoyable. Either way, how you handle the aftermath of your midterm exams will affect your final grades in your classes. Here’s how to cope with — or make the best of — your winter midterm experience.
Don’t get bummed out or take your grade for granted
Midterms will most likely not make or break your final grade, unless it’s a large chunk of it. Don’t take a not-so-hot grade as a death sentence, and, at the same time, don’t think that everything will be smooth sailing if you got a high grade. Midterm exams should give you a rough estimate of how you will do for the rest of the class — but don’t take it as more than that. Getting upset over a rough grade will distract you from doing better, as will letting a good grade get to your head.
Assess the damage or rewards
Take a step back, collect yourself and look at the things you did wrong and what you did well, and then make a list for each. The things you shouldn’t worry yourself with are the topics you already know, especially if future exams are cumulative. The rest is what you should put special focus on: little mistakes, missed details and difficult concepts. By focusing on what you don’t know, you ensure that you’ll get a higher grade next time; the more you look at something, the more likely you are to retain it.
Prepare for future tests
The worst thing you can do after a big test is take your failure or success as a sign that you don’t need to study for other exams. Don’t get discouraged; consider bad grades as learning experiences and good grades as small confidence boosters. Use your list of don’t-knows and create a study plan that includes study groups, tutoring and professor’s office hours. Just because you don’t have another test for several weeks doesn’t mean you should put off preparing for it. Waiting until the last minute to study is the perfect recipe for a botched exam.
Ask questions
Whether you passed or failed, most professors give some sort of feedback on your exams, especially if essays were involved. Take advantage of this; professors are your number one source of information. If something is unclear, go to them during office hours or send them an email asking if they can clarify what you missed or how you can do better. The best part about asking questions is that professors love to see students who care about their classes and their grades. After all, they teach because they want to, and they’re probably more than willing to discuss their subject one-on-one.
Become or keep being a good student
The most important thing you can do is be the best you possible, even if that means changing some of your habits. We all know what we should do: go to class, take notes, participate, get enough sleep, study, be a super-student. But the only thing that matters is what you choose to do. The beauty of college is that you get to find yourself and do what makes you happy, which should include keeping your grades up; otherwise, why would a bad grade devastate you or a good grade make you happy? Start or continue the habits that make for a successful college career.
