Coping with exam results

Not doing as well as you expected or hoped in your exams can be really tough, especially if you've just finished school and you needed higher marks to get into a particular course. It can also be tough if you feel as if you didn't meet the expectations of others, such as family members or teachers.

How expectations + pressure might affect you

You might be experiencing a range of feelings waiting for or after receiving your results including:

• disappointment
• happiness
• excitement
• stress or anxiety
• anger
• down or depressed
• numbness
• guilt
• confusion
• sadness
• physical sickness
• hopelessness.

It can be especially difficult if your friends are celebrating and are happy over their results.

Expectations and pressure from yourself, family, teachers and friends may be a positive influence and help to challenge or motivate you to do your best. However, too much pressure to achieve can cause you to burn out.

If you find that expectations or pressure about your results are interfering with your day to day life, it is important that you talk to someone about it, such as a friend, teacher, or counsellor. For more info on how these people might be able to help you, check out the Who can help you section.

Suggestions for coping with exam results

Even though your results may not be what you were expecting or hoping for, it does not mean that your future is hopeless, you are a failure or you won't be able to achieve great things. Here are some suggestions that may help you manage the situation:

Talk to someone outside the situation - Talking to someone outside the situation, such as a friend, teacher or counsellor, can be a great way of expressing your feelings and exploring other options.

Talk to the person setting the unhelpful expectations - Sometimes the person might be unaware of the unhelpful pressure they have put on you. When you talk to them, it might be helpful to use a phrase such as "When you treat me like that, then this happens".

Challenge and reset your expectations - Sometimes it can be helpful to re-think your own expectations. This may help you decide if they are achievable for you. A useful question to ask might be 'What would I suggest to a friend in this situation?'

Explore other options for the future - Sometimes expectations are only focused on one outcome and if you don't meet it you might feel disappointed or that you have failed. Usually there are a number of ways to achieve a goal. It may help to talk to someone you trust about what the different strategies might be. This may be a friend, counsellor or family member.

Get some head space/chill out - Sometimes getting some head space and a change of scenery can be helpful - it's important to give yourself permission to do this. This might include going for a walk or listening to your favourite music, reading a book, going to the movies - whatever works for you.

Express your feelings - Writing down your feelings or keeping a journal, can be a great way of understanding a situation and reducing the power of expectations. It can also help you think about alternative solutions to problems.

Other ways you might express your feelings in a way that won't cause bodily damage to yourself, another person, or your computer might include yelling, punching, or crying into a pillow, or dancing around the room to loud music.

Check out the Express yourself fact sheet for more info.

Look after yourself - Expectations can lead to a lot of stress. It's important to take time out by doing something that you usually enjoy. Even though you might not feel like it or have time, exercising and eating well can help. Getting plenty of sleep can also help.

Exercise helps stimulate hormones, such as endorphin, which help you feel better about yourself and your life. If you haven't done a lot of exercise before, it might be a good idea to start doing something small a couple of times each week, such as a 15 minute walk or 2 or 3 laps of a pool. Visiting your GP for a general check up can be a way of making sure there isn't any physical problem.

Avoid drugs and alcohol - Try not to use alcohol or other drugs (including lots of caffeine or other energy boosting drinks) in the hope of feeling better or forgetting expectations and pressure. The feeling is usually temporary and the after effects often make you feel worse. 

For more info on how to cope with exam results and planning your future, why not check out some of these links...

• Final Year At School(Fact sheet)
• Leaving school - strategies for making the transition smoother(Fact sheet)
• One Of My Little Life Struggles(Story)