I Failed the Exams - What Now? - Tips on What to Do When You Fail an Exam

I failed the exam and I feel like a loser.

I am a complete failure.

I failed the exam. I'm really stupid.

If you've dealt with these horrible thoughts, read on...

RELAX and DON'T PANIC

Failing is NOT the end of anything. It doesn't define who you are. It doesn't define your life. Sure, it can be a sad and depressing moment of your life - but it's just that - a MOMENT. A temporary moment in your life that's bound to end sooner than you can imagine. 

Take a deep breath and realize two things:

- First is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Everyone fails or does poorly at an exam at some point in their lives. You're not isolated and it's NORMAL. Even if you're an exceptional genius (and I'm being redundant here), you can fail - and it's OK.

- Second is that YOU CAN SUCCEED the next time you take the exam. This moment of failure is simply just another obstacle to overcome - an experience which will help you better yourself. This is just like any other challenge you've faced before - and look at you now - you're fine and breathing - probably sad about the exam results - but hey, you're alive and everything is going to be OK. 

Failing an exam is just a setback in your journey. It won't and it can't stop you from breaking the barriers towards your dream if YOU won't let it. Don't dwell on it too much.

YOU CAN GRIEVE - and GRIEVE YOU SHALL

You LOST. You may not have lost someone but you've lost a chance - a chance at reaping the fruit of your labor, a chance at being proud, and a chance at accomplishing a significant feat. That being said, you have the perfect excuse to grieve and slack off - just don't overdo it.

TAKE A BREAK. Do something you love. Do something that will help you overcome your sadness. Talk to your family and friends. Go out with them. Go to the beach or on a road trip. If you don't feel like going out, be a couch potato with your favorite watch buddies and do a marathon of your fave TV series. 

Forget your diet for a little while. Go to a bar and drink if you feel like it (and if you're able at your age). Eat lots of chocolates - or ice cream - or cake - or donuts - or any comfort food of your choosing. Do something out of the ordinary. Get a new hobby. Try something creative. Learn a new skill. Divert your attention to something productive.

Help yourself avoid depression. Don't let your despair eat you up. Counter negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Avoid negative people as well. Do whatever it is that will help you to mentally and emotionally relax so you can move on the next step. Remember that life goes on and sooner or later (better if it's sooner), you need to get back on the bandwagon. 

Just like what the Robinsons said (yeah, that Disney movie), don't look backwards very long. KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

REFLECT, REALIZE, REBOUND

Don't do this until your grief period is over and you've accepted that failure is an essential part of being alive. When you're done wallowing in your defeat, it's time to put things into perspective. Stop for a moment and reflect - WHAT WENT WRONG? WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? Stop making excuses and take responsibility of your failure.

Think about what you did and you didn't. Think about what the successful examinees did. Find inspiring success stories and try to compare yours. Reflect on the following:

- Did I study right?
- Did I study the right material?
- Did I study enough?

- Could I have done better? How?

After you've honestly answered these questions, start the rebound. Prepare for the next exam with the same - if not a more - intense zeal to succeed. Remember that no one became successful without failing at some point. Exam results are not a reflection of you. 

It's how you bounce back in life and how you move on from struggles which define you. Hang on to that dream of yours tightly, and soon it will be yours.

REMINDERS

The Pen and Paper Civil Service Exams in the Philippines are administered by the Civil Service Commission twice a year. If you have failed the exam in the first batch (usually administered some time from March to May), you can still retake in the next batch (anytime from August to October) provided that you DID NOT take the same exam level for COMEX Computerized Career Service Examination (COMEX)  or the special exams for government employees in between the CSE-PPT schedules. This is because the gap period between the two Pen and Paper Tests are longer than the 3-month gap required by the CSC for CSE examinees.