Tips if you fail an assessment

So you’ve failed an assessment and are not sure about what to do? Most importantly, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Essentially, you need to understand why you failed and address the issue (or issues). Figuring out where you went wrong will ensure that you gain the skills you need to succeed in future assessments.

You are at university to learn, and sometimes failure is a great teacher! It’s also good to remember that the University is here to help you learn and wants you to succeed. University is not easy, but you can do it and there are many people here to support you to get the most from your education at Monash. Read more below to find out what to do next.

Note that if you fail a unit, you will need to go to Monash’s Failed and invalid units page. That page gives advice about what to do if you failed a prerequisite unit, as this might have implications for your future study plans.

Tips for what to do if you fail an assessment View

Try not to panic. We understand it is not a good feeling to fail and it is important to reflect on why it happened constructively. Here are some steps to help you focus on getting past this set back.

Click on each section below to get a better understanding of how to move on in a productive manner.

Recommended steps to take if you fail an assessment

You may have failed due to a lack of understanding of the unit content - the ideas in the class that you needed to show the marker you understood. Another way of saying this is that perhaps you failed to show that you had achieved the Learning Outcomes of the assessment.
On the other hand, you may not have expressed your ideas and understanding clearly. It could be that you understand the content, but do not have the academic literacy skills to convey the ideas effectively, write clearly and concisely, or demonstrate critical thinking. It’s also a good idea to look at the marking rubric and re-read the instructions to see if perhaps you did not interpret the assessment instructions in the right way.
If you struggle to focus on your work and tend to leave assessments to the last minute, this could mean you need to focus on time management, study skills and motivation/goal setting. A learning adviser can help you with these skills.
Whatever the reasons, you need to try to understand why you failed and then consult your lecturer, tutor and/or learning adviser to address the issues.
Email your lecturer or tutor and let them know that you know that you failed. Lecturers and tutors care about your progress and by contacting them as soon as you find out you failed you are showing them that you care about your progress too.
Taking a proactive stance will show your lecturer/tutor that you understand the seriousness of the situation. It will also set up the space for you to get more support from them to do better in future assessments.
Here are some tips for contacting your lecturer or tutor:
1. Make sure you read the lecturer’s/tutor’s feedback first. This should help you understand where you went wrong, and inform your discussion with them. It will help you identify areas to improve on for the next assessment.
2. If you have read the feedback and are still not sure where you went wrong or how to improve, ask your lecturer/tutor if you can set up a meeting to discuss the assessment during their office hours or regular consultation time.
3. Remember, it’s your lecturer’s job to help you learn and succeed at Monash, but they can’t help you if you don’t communicate with them. So ask them what you can do to improve, and what you need to focus on to succeed in your assessments in the future.
A learning adviser from the Student Academic Success team can help you in many ways. They can help you to interpret the feedback from the marker, which may enable you to identify your areas of weakness and develop a plan to address them. They can also advise you on how best to email your lecturer or tutor if you are feeling unsure about this.
Perhaps most importantly, a learning adviser can help you to improve your study strategies and writing skills. They can also assist you to plan and organise your time and approach to future assessments. Discussing your approach to assessments, your current place in your learning journey and any issues you may be facing with your academic progress is vital to ensuring that you get the most out of your education at Monash. Learning advisers are experienced and well-placed to support you.
It’s important to be proactive when it comes to your learning. The onus is on you to seek support and improvement. After taking the steps above to contact your lecturer or tutor, meet with a learning adviser, and look at the feedback carefully. It could be helpful to:
1. make a time management plan and break your future assessments into manageable tasks. Include in your plan catching up on any unit content you missed or didn’t understand.
2. explore Learn HQ resources that can help you, including excel at writing, acknowledge your sources, maintain academic integrity and enhance your thinking.
3. find out what assessments are still outstanding and what grade you need to get in those assessments to pass the unit. If you failed an early stage assessment (i.e. one of the first assessments in the unit that has a lower weighting, say 10% to 20%) you could still pass the unit if you take steps to address the issues now. Make a booking with a learning adviser to get support with these future assessments.
Failing an assessment can be a shock. You may want to talk to a counsellor about your reactions, feelings and plans for the future. Free counselling is available for all Monash students.
There may also be underlying reasons that you failed. Perhaps you struggled with procrastination, or focussing for long periods of time. You may have failed because you didn’t, or weren’t able to plan and organise your time effectively. Whatever the reasons, you may benefit from talking about your life situation with a counsellor to see if they can help identify ways that you could manage your studies and life more effectively.
While many people may think counselling is ‘not for them’, it is important to note that seeking help in any way requires strength and shows courage. Counsellors can offer an unbiased, understanding outlook on life, and give you an opportunity to explore your emotions, thoughts and processes in a way that people close to you may not be able to.

Note

If you feel that you have a disability that is affecting your learning or ability to complete assessments, you should discuss this with a counsellor and also contact Disability Support Services.

In summary, failing doesn’t feel great but it does happen. The most important thing to do is get help and communicate with your lecturer or tutor. Counsellors, learning advisers and your lecturer or tutor can all help you. It’s also important to understand why you failed and address the shortcomings in your work and studies to make sure that you succeed in your future assessments.

Check your understanding View

Taking it further

Your feedback matters

We want to hear from you! Let us know what you found most useful or share your suggestions for improving this resource.

	Try not to panic!
	Look at the feedback and try to understand why you got the result you did.
	Contact your lecturer or tutor if anything remains unclear.
	Contact the Student Academic Success team (if you haven’t already).
	Make a plan to catch up or learn what it is that you didn’t understand or didn’t do correctly, and ensure you’re prepared for future assessments.
	Consider talking to a counsellor.

Student Academic Success

Student Academic Success

Tips if you fail an assessment

Tips for what to do if you fail an assessment View

Recommended steps to take if you fail an assessment

Note

Check your understanding View

Taking it further

Marking and feedback procedure

Student academic progress

Getting course advice

Assessment at Monash

Your feedback matters