How can I bounce back from a bad grade on my first Physics exam?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a participant's concern about receiving a D+ on their first Physics exam and their desire to achieve straight A's in the semester. The conversation explores feelings of disappointment, the potential impact on their major in Engineering, and strategies for improvement moving forward.

Discussion Character

  • Empathetic support
  • Advice on study strategies
  • Debate/contested perspectives on emotional support versus practical advice

Main Points Raised

  • A participant expresses concern about their grade and its implications for their academic goals, questioning whether it is still possible to achieve an A in the class.
  • Another participant shares a personal anecdote about overcoming struggles in a Physics course, encouraging a positive outlook and enjoyment of learning.
  • A suggestion is made to move the discussion to a homework help category, indicating a belief that practical assistance may be more beneficial.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of analyzing mistakes made on the exam to improve future performance, suggesting that understanding errors is crucial for academic success.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally empathize with the original poster's feelings of disappointment, but there is a divergence in opinions regarding the best approach to take moving forward—whether to focus on emotional support or practical study strategies.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a range of emotional responses to academic challenges and varying perspectives on how to address them. There is no consensus on the most effective way to cope with the situation.

ralfsk8
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Hey everyone,

So I got a D+ on my first Physics exam. I always have a goal of achieving straight A's in a semester and now I feel that that's gone down the drain. Maybe one of you guys can help me out here. The worst test (out of 3) is only worth 10% of my final grade (assuming that this test is my worst one, hopefully that will be the case). I'm pretty sure it's still possible to get an A in the class, right? It's these grades that sometimes make me want to change my major, but I love Engineering, and I want to be good at it.

Can anyone here empathize with me?

Thanks
 
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ralfsk8 said:
Hey everyone,

So I got a D+ on my first Physics exam. I always have a goal of achieving straight A's in a semester and now I feel that that's gone down the drain. Maybe one of you guys can help me out here. The worst test (out of 3) is only worth 10% of my final grade (assuming that this test is my worst one, hopefully that will be the case). I'm pretty sure it's still possible to get an A in the class, right? It's these grades that sometimes make me want to change my major, but I love Engineering, and I want to be good at it.

Can anyone here empathize with me?

Thanks

YES! lol I took my very FIRST Physics course from one of the two men that invented the CD player. He told me some wonderful stories about his personal struggles through school and that made me feel confident enough to... go on... and do FAR better... when taking the danged class for the second time. lol Don't worry about it! Keep trying and just enjoy it. I know that is easy for me to say now that I don't have to do it again but seriously, enjoy the new things your learning, it will come to you! :wink:

BREAK A LEG! :biggrin:
 
ralfsk8 said:
Hey everyone,

So I got a D+ on my first Physics exam. ... The worst test (out of 3) is only worth 10% of my final grade (assuming that this test is my worst one, hopefully that will be the case). I'm pretty sure it's still possible to get an A in the class, right?
Probably this should be moved to homework help.
 
Last edited:
ralfsk8 said:
Hey everyone,

So I got a D+ on my first Physics exam. I always have a goal of achieving straight A's in a semester and now I feel that that's gone down the drain. Maybe one of you guys can help me out here. The worst test (out of 3) is only worth 10% of my final grade (assuming that this test is my worst one, hopefully that will be the case). I'm pretty sure it's still possible to get an A in the class, right? It's these grades that sometimes make me want to change my major, but I love Engineering, and I want to be good at it.

Can anyone here empathize with me?

Thanks
I can certainly empathize with you. However, empathy isn't what you need right now: it won't affect your grades. What you need to do is dig in and study what went wrong on the questions you missed. Obviously you made some constellation of errors, errors in studying or errors in test taking, that his test brought to light. You need to locate exactly what those errors were and decide what you need to do so you don't make them again.
 

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