Hey,
I just wanted to share something that I think a lot of us experience but don’t always talk about.
You spend days, maybe weeks revising. You actually put in the time, go through the lectures, do the practice questions, maybe even feel like you’ve finally got a good grasp on the topic. You walk into the exam thinking, “I’m as ready as I can be.”
And then the exam hits. The questions feel unfamiliar. The format’s not what you expected. You blank out on something you knew perfectly yesterday. You look at the clock and realise you’re out of time way too soon.
And you walk out of the room thinking… “What just happened?”
It’s such a horrible, empty feeling. Because the part that hurts the most isn’t the grade — it’s knowing how much work you put in. It’s the fact that you cared, and it still didn’t go the way you hoped.
If that happened to you recently, please know this: it doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It doesn’t mean you didn’t work hard enough. And it definitely doesn’t mean you’re not capable.
Sometimes exams are just rough. Timing, nerves, the way a question is worded — so many things can throw you off that have nothing to do with your actual understanding.
So if you’re feeling disappointed, defeated, or even a bit lost right now, that’s okay. You’re allowed to feel that. But don’t let it erase all the effort you put in. That work still matters. That knowledge is still in your head. And you’ve gained way more than a grade can show.
If anyone else has been through this, I’d love to hear how you dealt with it.
We’re all doing our best. Be kind to yourself.
You’ve got this, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now