We’ve all heard the phrase, ‘hope for the best, plan for the worst’ – well, it’s a good rule of thumb, and never more so than when exams are concerned.
The waiting after you’ve taken exams can be excruciating, and you’d have to have a mind of steel not to let your thoughts wander to “what if I’ve failed!” However, if you can rationalise the possible outcomes of not doing as well as you’d hoped, you can prevent fear and anxiety taking hold. Easy!
Firstly, ask yourself what depends on the outcome of these exams.
Are they school exams? Practice exams? Will you be able to go on to the next level of your education as planned if you don’t do as well as you’d hoped? Usually, the answer is that they don’t have an immediate impact on your next step.
Undoubtedly, A-Levels and Level 3 Qualifications are important but if you have a solid ‘what if’ plan behind you, a sort of plan B or back up, those inevitable feelings of failure won’t win.
Always remember, everyone wants you to succeed, teachers, and admissions departments all want you on their courses – otherwise, they’d be out of a job!
When creating a ‘what if’ plan, you should consider all possible outcomes. Options could include:
- The university or college offering you an alternative course or year of entry
- Looking for a different course using Clearing (in the case of adjustment, where you exceed your expected results).
- Retaking exams and reapplying next year
- Taking a gap year or looking at apprenticeship opportunities
- Going straight into the world of work
Also, you can sign up to the UCAS free contact service in case things don’t go to plan. By signing up, universities and colleges with spaces on courses similar to those you’ve applied to can contact you with an offer – you don’t have to accept any offers you receive, and if you do secure a place on results day, you won’t be contacted.