There are few things in life more disappointing than realising you’ve been unsuccessful in an exam.
There could be any number of reasons you didn’t pass. Covid of course is still having an impact on all of our lives, or maybe you were experiencing a personal difficulty that hindered your ability to study over the last few months. Perhaps your work schedule was so jam-packed that you didn’t have as much time to revise as you would have liked. Or maybe you can hold your hand up and say that you didn’t put in enough effort this time.
Whatever the reason, you need to remember that failing an exam isn’t the end of the world. There are a number of actions you can take to ensure you’re better prepared next time around and achieve success when you resit your exam.
1. Talk to your employer
If you’re taking exams due to a work requirement, your first port of call should be to notify your employer that you have been unsuccessful. While having to tell your employer "I failed my exam" is a daunting prospect, your line manager could be able to help by giving you more support next time around or by pointing you towards someone in the company who can help with the subject you are studying.
If your employer funds your exams, they are entitled to receive details of your results, so don’t put off speaking to them if you have been unsuccessful. It is better they find out from you than when the corporate results are released.
2. Consult a friend, family member or partner
They say a problem shared is a problem halved, so don’t keep your disappointment bottled up. Chat to someone close to you about what you think went wrong and discuss study strategies for next time around. Maybe your partner could help by taking the kids for an extra hour in the evening to allow you time to study. You could also consider setting up a study group with colleagues, to help each other through the next exam.
3. Look at the feedback
When you’ve been unsuccessful in an exam, having someone help you better understand what went wrong can really help. Therefore our education team provide you with feedback specifically designed to help you better identify the areas that you need to work on next time around.
APA & CIP
All students receive a personalised feedback report that identifies the questions that on this occasion you got wrong. The report also points you to the section of the textbook where you can find the correct answer and therefore better understand the correlation between the two pieces of information. If you are looking for your report, you can find this in the Connect section of your Member Area on the day your results are released.
Higher Diploma in Insurance Management
If you are unsuccessful in a Higher Diploma in Insurance Management module, we will provide you with your overall result and general feedback from the Assessment Team. In addition to this, you will receive an individualised Feedback Report, noting the areas for improvement which also includes some specific feedback from the module Assessor to help guide you in your next attempt.
If after reviewing your feedback report you still would like to query your result, you can apply for a review or recheck. We recommend you contact our Member Services team if you would like to do this.
Note: All fails are always double marked. This means that if you request a recheck, it will be sent to a third independent marker for review.
4. Apply for your repeat exam
When you receive your result, don’t wait around to apply for your repeat exam. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get access to your supports and start your study again. Giving yourself enough time to cover the material is one of the key ingredients for success.
To apply for your repeat, log into the Member Area and click ‘Apply/Renew Here’ to choose your module. If the textbook has been updated for the next exam sitting, make sure you are studying the most up-to-date version.
If you’re unsure if you have the correct version, you can check the first page of your textbook to see if it is valid for the next exam sitting. Alternatively, call us on 01 645 6670 and we will let you know.
5. Use the study supports
There is a vast range of study supports available through Connect to help you achieve success in your exam repeat. Access them early on and use them throughout your study.
If covering the material fully was your challenge, look at the study schedule in your Learning Plan, which suggests which chapters you should cover week by week. Taking mock exams or sample papers is also an excellent way to prepare.
Check out our blog post on creating a study plan that really works →
To access your supports, log in to Connect via the Member Area and choose your module under ‘My Examinations’.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
There is lots of assistance available to help you pass your exam, so don’t be afraid to ask for it. Seek out those in your workplace who have taken the exams before and ask for tips or advice. If you’re stuck on an aspect of the textbook, give our Member Services team a call on 01 645 6670 or email memberservices@iii.ie and we’d be happy to help.
Remember, you’re not the only person to have failed this exam and everyone experiences this kind of disappointment at some point. Learn from your mistakes and ask for help and you’ll be sure to achieve success next time around.
