recently i have received all of my exam results it was super unsatisfying if i must say, i failed my math when most of my classmates passed, that means its not that hard right? if my
classmates can do it, why can’t i? i had woken up at 4am everyday just to study but still i cant get the best. my friend who sat beside me at class, she got straight As and i feel like a failure and i feel like it’s the end of the world ( i couldn’t even bear so say that about myself) i don’t know what should i do, maybe my study technique is wrong? maybe i’ve been studying the wrong thing? many thought is racing in my mind. soon i’ll be sitting for spm on jan which is 3 months ahead (plus minus) i don’t know if i’ll get an excellent result for spm if my trial is like this. will i be able to get into a prestigious college and be a successful person to make my parents proud. im so devastated
Hi, user 1491
Thank you for reaching out to share your exam worries. Your recent exam results seemed to have triggered a series of negative thoughts about yourself, and concerns about the consequences of not able to do well in the actual SPM exams which is around the corner (in 3 months time). You studied very hard. Despite waking up at 4am everyday to study, you were disappointed for unable to get satisfactory results that you hoped for. What makes it worse was when you compared your math result with your classmates, your self-reproaching thoughts had even intensified your anxiety and fear to the point that you were devastated. I hear your worries about not getting an excellent result might not make you a successful person and your parents proud. All that sounds really tough and stressful.
Although some people might experience adrenaline rush and could learn better under stress, do note that many people were not able to perform while experiencing intense pressure and stress, specifically when studying for exam.
There are many reasons for not able to achieve the exam results as one hoped for, but not able to do well in an exam will never be the end of the world. Learning is a life-long process that helps one to update with the knowledge and skills which are required at different stages of life. The exam constitutes only one of the milestones in your life, there will be many more to achieve and for you to learn from. Therefore, please don’t feel disheartened, and lose hope. Learn to stay calm and reflect on your learning process. You might probably realise what went wrong in the process and find ways to improve it.
The following are some ideas that can be helpful for you to explore.
- Always stay calm - in situation where you feel that it’s against you, practice deep breathing and stay calm, before you react.
- Adopt and practice calming activity like : deep breathing , meditation, yoga, etc.
- Explore solutions - talk to a teacher, classmate, or a mentor about your study method in different subjects, especially those subjects that you think that you didn’t do well. Explore with them whether the study method is an issue, or the approach to solutions was not helpful.
- Understand what study style (visual, auditory, etc) can be more effective for you. Some people could understand and remember the content better through visual learning. This means that transferring the content knowledge into pictorial form can help the learner to retain the knowledge better.
- Think positive - when something goes wrong, don’t just think of the negative reasons, try to explore also other positive thinking that might be possible too.
- Cultivate a growth mindset. Try to see that learning is an important part of our life. Study is not just about doing well for exam. It is also meant for us to learn the knowledge and skills that might be helpful to us in the future (even though you might not see that now). For example, many people might not see the good in learning math, but math actually helps our brains to develop and strengthen our analytical skills.
- Take short breaks in between study. Sitting to study for a long period of time in one shot might not be helpful in retaining knowledge.
- Practice proper sleep hygiene as it will improve your attentiveness in the day.
- Develop an exercise regime (such as brisk walk, jogging, etc) as exercise will help your brain to release relaxed hormones that makes a person feel good. Learning is best at the time when one is calm.
Hope my sharing helps. Take care and all the best to your spm exam.
I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. It sounds like you’ve put in a lot of effort, and it’s tough when that doesn’t seem to pay off. But your trial results don’t define you or your potential. First, you have to figure out if it’s the exam stress that got to you, or is it your studying technique. Sometimes, it’s not about how much you study but how you study. Maybe exploring new techniques, like active recall or focusing on weaker areas (based on the papers you’ve gotten back), could help. Taking regular shorts breaks when studying can help with information retention too.
Additionally, not everyone can perform under pressure; I remember getting a bad grade for an exam but after retaking it in a more relaxed state, I jumped up 2 grades. If the problem is the latter, you can adopt calming techniques such as the ones @l_listen mentioned, or look for trusted friends/mentors/adults to speak to if that helps you calm down.
You still have time to adjust before SPM, and remember, one set of grades isn’t the full picture of your abilities or future success. You’ve already shown resilience by trying so hard—hang in there, and take it one step at a time.
I’m so sorry that you’re experiencing this. When others appear to have it easier, it may be quite difficult to put in so much effort and not see the outcomes you’ve worked so hard for. However, your effort of getting up at four in the morning to study, demonstrates your commitment. Keep in mind that your value and potential are not determined by a single set of tests. Sometimes working differently is more effective than working harder; maybe experimenting with alternative study methods or seeking out resources like study groups or more practice in certain areas might help.
Hey @user1491 I can feel the weight of this disappointment and the pressure you’re putting on yourself, and I’m so sorry it feels like everything you worked so hard for didn’t turn out the way you hoped. It’s completely understandable to feel devastated when you’ve been giving it your all, waking up early, pushing yourself, and yet the results aren’t matching up.
I for one have acknowledged during high school that “efforts don’t equal results”, it’s one of the cruel facts. But what I know is if we don’t put efforts, there definitely won’t be results. So you are on the right track with all your efforts! I am proud of you for that!
Comparing yourself to others—especially friends who seem to have it all together—is natural, but it doesn’t mean you’re not capable or that you won’t succeed. Everyone’s path to understanding and success looks different. It might just mean finding another way of studying or focusing on specific areas where you need support. And three months is still time. You’ve got determination, and even though it feels shaky right now, that drive to make your parents proud and succeed will push you forward.
Remember, a setback like this doesn’t define your whole future. You’re already showing resilience and a deep willingness to improve by just thinking about what to change and not giving up. Those characteristics are what will make you strive and successful in the future 
Some tips on how I prepared my SPM would be doing a lot of past year papers to familiarize myself with the questioning style (remember, trials don’t equal the actual thing! speaking from experience!). Another way is to communicate and discuss with peers, as I got a lot of different information from different tuitions they go to on what to focus on. Lastly is, be sure to sleep and rest well because it is a marathon, not a sprint.
You still have a chance to turn things around for SPM, and regardless of the outcome, you’re worthy of being proud of yourself for all the effort you’ve put in. I wish you all the best and good luck!
no no u are not a failure. Not getting As is not a determination of intelligence. I sucked at maths too