Quote of the day: "Turn a seeming disadvantage into an advantage" -Robert Fripp
It's happened to all of us, sooner or later. The big bomb. If it hasn't gotten you yet, one day it will. The question is, will you let it ruin your semester? Included below are some break-the-glass emergency tips to help you bail the water out of the sinking boat in the event that a cannon ball of a terrible test comes your way.
0) This course has to be your focus for the rest of the semester/year- You have to tighten up for the rest of the semester. It's possible to bounce back from one bombed test. It's very difficult if not impossible to bounce back from 2.
1) Check that you actually did terrible on the test- Check the class average and the high/low scores on the test. Physics classes are not like other subjects where 90 is the bench mark for doing well. Sometimes a 55 is the highest score in the class!
2) Don't beat yourself up- Dust yourself off, get up and keep going. Don't give up. You don't have anything to gain from going down the spiral of self-deprecation.
3) Use this failure as inspiration- Sometimes a bombed test is the wake up call you need. Use this as a no-room-for-failure motivation if you're feeling lazy about continuing on with the course.
4) Identify points of failure- Did you party the night before? Were you just struggling with a particular topic? Are you weak on the fundamentals required for the course?
5) Become a permanent fixture of office hours and any review sessions- Go even when you don't think you need to. You never know what you're going to pick up. Putting in face time also shows your professors that you are taking things seriously, and may allow the pendulum to swing your way come final grade time.
6) Gear up for the Final- Usually when you do terrible on something it burns itself deeper into your memory than the things you did well on. If these questions crop up on the final, you'll remember them clearly so if you can use this experience to learn from those mistakes, they'll be your strongest points on the final. The final has to be your focus for the rest of the semester. It is usually weighted more, and acing your final is the key to wiping this besmirch away good!
7) Every point is precious now- Anything you can do to curry favor is going to make the difference. Make sure your homeworks are all 100%. Make sure they are neat, and perfect, and a joy to grade. Make sure any opportunity for extra credit is maximized. Make sure you are prepared for any quizzes. There is now little room for leaking points.
