Library Service Blog

A Different Result: Support for Resits

Some years ago I failed my grade 5 music theory exam. I can still see the word FAIL staring rudely at me from the page. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and guilty (for letting other people down). I was angry at the stupid exam. I felt this was the end of the road and I didn’t know what to do. I could cry, blame everyone else, or give up on music. But I suddenly realised I had a choice. I could do something about this. I couldn’t control what had happened but I could control what would happen next.

If like me you have failed an exam or an assignment then you can take control over what happens next. The fail is a First Attempt In Learning but what to do second time around? The motivational speaker Tony Robbins has been credited with the saying “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got”. The point is that to get a different result in your exam or assignment second time you’ve got to go about things in a different way.

That’s where we come in. The Skills Centre can quickly give you different techniques and strategies for revising and doing exams. We can help you approach your assignments in different and more effective ways. With a small time investment you can benefit from our expertise and knowledge. You pay your tuition fees and are a customer of this University – so why wouldn’t you take up the services on offer? You wouldn’t turn down a free service for your bike or a free meal from a pizza restaurant would you?

We have a full programme of resit and resubmission support, with drop-ins and one-to-one academic skills appointments. So what are you waiting for? At least you will have taken control. You may have failed but you don’t need to give in. Our online study guide has lots of tips and advice on exams and revision.

Oh and by the way I passed my exam second time around – and went on to achieve grade 8 piano which I could not have done without passing the theory.

Kate Salinsky,

Skills Adviser, The Skills Centre