Tips for Dealing with Academic Failure

Academic failure describes what happens when you do not meet expectations in school, like failing an exam or course. The term also encompasses attrition rates—the percentage of students who choose to leave a program before completing it—since students who struggle in school tend to be more likely to drop out than their peers who feel more successful.

Although few people admit they like failing, it's a fairly common experience. A study of college students in Australia revealed that between one-quarter and one-half of college students failed one or more courses while in school [1]. The reality is that failure happens, and you can learn valuable lessons from the experience that can help you be more successful.

Effects of academic failure on students

For some students, academic failure has lasting consequences for their lives—they're more likely to withdraw from a course or school when they don't feel successful. Dropping a required course means it may take them longer to earn the credits they need, or they may decide to stop pursuing the degree or certification altogether. This is especially true for students who need to maintain high grades to maintain financial support.

When you struggle academically, you also may wrestle with feelings of disappointment, depression, and increased stress levels that can seep into other aspects of your life. In a Student Voice survey, students shared how high stress levels affect their performance in school [2]. They tend to have a harder time focusing in class and meeting deadlines, which can lead to lower scores. 

Signs of academic failure

One of the first signs of academic failure is forgetting to turn in assignments. When you're dealing with emotional stress or poor sleep, you may notice you are more forgetful and pay attention less in class. This makes it easier to miss deadlines. However, the signs of academic failure vary from person to person and include the following:

• You regularly arrive to class late.

• You start skipping class.

• You struggle to stay organized.

• You delay working on assignments or projects.

• You participate less in class.

• You have trouble concentrating.

• You sleep more or less than usual.

• You fall asleep in class.

• You receive low grades consistently.

5 steps for dealing with academic failure

If you notice warning signs of academic failure, it's time to take action. Work through these steps to help stay focused on solutions.

1. Identify the causes.

As soon as you realize you're dealing with academic failure, identify what's causing the problem. Perhaps you did—or did not—do something that led to the poor grade. Think about why you acted this way. Maybe your final grade dropped because you didn't turn in assignments like the big project due at the end of the term. You may have spent time with friends instead of studying. It's also possible that you misunderstood the instructions for a major project and did not ask your teacher or a classmate to clarify them.

Sometimes, the cause of the problem is outside your control, like a medical emergency or family situation that needs your immediate attention. However, even if you had to take time away from your studies to deal with the situation, you should consider how your reaction contributed to the poor performance in class. For example, if you missed class because of an illness, you should have met with the teacher or connected with a classmate when you started feeling better to get the notes and assignments you needed.

2. Accept responsibility.

After identifying the cause of the academic failure, it's helpful to accept responsibility for your role. You can't control a family emergency that keeps you out of class, but you can decide whether to contact your teacher or professor about upcoming assignments or ignore them. The good news is that you can change those habits next time and may be able to avoid another failing grade.

When dealing with unfortunate situations like academic failure, you may feel angry, frustrated, or sad. These feelings are normal and an important part of learning how to overcome academic failure. Give yourself permission to feel these feelings and be gentle with yourself. Self-compassion tends to be more effective than harsh criticism and rumination about what you did wrong. The goal is to learn a lesson, not punish yourself.

3. Monitor your self-talk.

You may feel tempted to punish yourself for your mistakes, but the inner critic tends to be unhelpful and does not deserve your attention. If you replay your mistakes in your head, you may start to believe the negative thoughts associated with them. This can make it harder to learn the lesson and move on because it changes how you feel about yourself.

Pay attention to your thoughts, and try thinking about more positive memories when you notice multiple negative ones. Replay how you felt when you earned a top score on an exam or received praise from a teacher or classmate. You also may find it helpful to reflect on a time when you successfully overcame a challenge—even one not related to your academic performance. Replacing the negative thoughts with positive ones can help you stop dwelling on the past and look forward to a better future.

4. Find a solution and take action.

When you reframe your thoughts and stop focusing on what you did wrong, you can find solutions and take action to make better decisions in the future. This may be as simple as talking with your teacher. For example, if you missed a deadline, apologize for the oversight and ask if you can turn in the work late. Your teacher may deduct points, but getting some credit is better than nothing.

If you have a low grade in a course and still have time to bring it up, focus on upcoming assignments and exams. This gives you a great reason to explore the academic resources available, including study groups and tutoring to help you learn important concepts and prepare for upcoming tests that can improve your grade. You also could meet with an academic advisor to discuss your situation and develop a plan.

5. Create a plan for the future.

The lessons you learn through this experience can help you create a plan for the future to prevent this from happening again. You may need to change some of your habits, such as choosing a seat where you deal with fewer distractions during class and setting aside time each day to review your notes and study for upcoming exams in short segments of time. Other ideas include setting up study groups with friends, finding—and using—a calendar to record due dates and deadlines, and asking for help when you don't understand a concept or an assignment.

Take advantage of your resources. If you need to learn how to take notes, find someone who can teach you different note-taking styles and find the one that works best for you. Seek out or create study groups with your classmates and learn how to manage your time so you're able to balance academics with your social life. You have an opportunity to learn new skills and change the way you think and act, which can improve your confidence.

Getting started with Coursera

You can find courses on Coursera to include in your plan to prevent academic failure. Consider a specialization like Essential English for University Success Specialization from the University of California, Irvine. It covers topics like note-taking, learning styles, and reading strategies that can help you improve your understanding and study skills. If you take online classes, check out the University of Leeds' Training and Learning Online course. You can explore tips for collaborating with classmates online and tips for maximizing your learning in an online format.