I’m a highschool sophmore, and I have always good at AP Bio. Like crazy good. My last two period averages were over a one hundred. But, something happened and somehow I managed to acheive a 45 on a quiz. I studied for atleast 2 hours the night before and understood the material. But, as soon as I sat down my mind blanked, I nearly had a panic attack. I have never ever failed a quiz or even made a B average in my academic career and I am extremely worried for the suffering of my GPA. I’d appreaciate any tips for facing a failure, and anything else that could help me compose myself better during tests. Thank you!
I made a 45 on my first college exam, in honors physics!! I was an engineering major and thought my life was over. My unweighted GPA in high school was almost 99.0. I got a tutor and worked really hard. I made a C that semester, and a B the next.
I ended up graduating with high honors. Ask for help and hang in there.
just relax during tests. it’s not the end of the world either. there are many more tests coming up for you.
One of the most important thing an AP class can do for you is teach you how to fail. A lot of times, if you’re used to doing well, you don’t know how to cope with bad grades. They happen and especially because it is a quiz it won’t be the end of the world. That said, look at your issues. What exactly did you get wrong? Were there details you didn’t know? Wrong answers because you panicked and misread the question? Finding the source of your errors will help you prevent them from happening again. Also, consider that excessive studying may make you more anxious, especially for a quiz (Obviously this would change in April). It may be better to spend an hour the night before going over the essentials.
The last thing I would suggest if you’re worried about the grade itself is ask the teacher if there’s any extra credit you can do (say, an extra project on the subject that shows you know the material) although I’m doubtful because at my school EC doesn’t really exist in APs. OR raise the possibility of swapping out the quiz grade for your chapter test grade if you can prove you know it.
I know it’s cliche but it’s not the end of the world. In AP Chem I had my fair share of bad grades and absolute fear of failure. This is part of the unwritten AP curriculum. And (I’m sorry this is rambly) never compare how you do to your classmates. Absolutely everyone will fail at some point and the earlier you do so, the better. I’m not saying it will never happen again but prioritize knowing the material over the grade.
Good luck and remember to have some fun with the class 