What to Do After a Poor Midterm Grade
Getting a midterm grade back and seeing a lower score than you expected can be discouraging. Maybe you studied hard and thought you were prepared. Maybe you already knew the exam hadn’t gone well. Either way, it can be easy to look at one bad grade and immediately worry about what it means for the rest of the semester.
But a poor midterm grade doesn’t have to determine how the rest of the semester goes. In fact, a disappointing exam can give you useful information about what isn’t working and what you can change before the next major assignment or test. Here’s what to do next!
Review the Exam Instead of Just Looking at the Score
If you have access to your graded midterm, go through the questions carefully. Don’t just focus on how many points you lost. Look for patterns in why you lost them. If you don’t have access to the exam, contact your teacher and ask if you can see your exam and review the questions you missed.
Did you misunderstand certain concepts? Make calculation errors? Forget important vocabulary? Misread questions? Struggle to explain ideas even though you felt like you understood them?
You might discover that most of your lost points came from one or two areas. That’s very different from not understanding anything on the exam.
Attend your teacher or professor’s office hours and ask questions about your exam. Don’t just ask, “How can I get my grade up?” Ask specific questions about what you could have done differently. Review the key concepts that you missed. Understanding your mistakes is the first step toward avoiding them on the next exam.
Can You Still Recover Your Grade?
After a disappointing midterm, one of your first concerns may be what the grade means for the rest of the course. Before assuming the worst, find out.
Check your syllabus or online gradebook and look at how the course is weighted. How much was the midterm worth? What assignments, projects, quizzes, and exams are still ahead? Does your teacher drop any scores or offer opportunities for extra credit?
For example, a poor midterm can feel devastating when you first see the score. But if the exam represents 15% of your final grade and you still have several assignments and a final exam, there may be plenty of opportunities to improve your overall grade.
Be realistic, though. Depending on the course and how grades are weighted, some outcomes may no longer be mathematically possible. That’s another reason to understand where you actually stand rather than guessing.
If you’re unsure, talk to your teacher or professor. They can help you understand your current standing and what you’ll need to accomplish during the remainder of the course.
Think About How You Prepared
Think about how you prepared for the midterm. When did you start studying? What did you actually do during your study times?
For example, rereading a textbook or looking through your notes for several hours might feel productive, but recognizing information on a page isn’t necessarily the same as being able to recall and apply it on an exam.
If the test required you to solve problems independently, your study sessions should have included plenty of independent practice. If you needed to remember important concepts, you could have tested yourself with active recall rather than rereading your notes over and over.
Our article on study techniques that improve long-term retention explains several ways to make studying more active and effective, including active recall, spaced practice, and applying information rather than simply rereading it.
You may also realize that you simply didn’t give yourself enough time. Trying to review several weeks of material in a night or two makes it difficult to ask questions and practice material you don’t understand. If timing was part of the problem, our guide to preparing for midterm exams without last-minute cramming can help you build a more manageable plan for your next major exam.
Make a Plan for the Rest of the Semester
Once you understand what went wrong, turn that information into a concrete plan. Start by looking at the rest of the course. What major tests, papers, projects, or assignments are still ahead? How much of your final grade do they represent? Check the syllabus or grading system so you have a realistic picture of where you stand.
Then focus on the changes that are within your control. That might mean attending office hours regularly, reviewing class notes for 20 minutes each day, or scheduling tutoring sessions.
Keep the plan manageable. A few specific changes practiced consistently are often more useful than an ambitious study plan you won’t be able to maintain.
If organization is part of the challenge, you can also start with some of our back-to-school organization tips that actually work and look for simple ways to keep track of assignments, upcoming exams, and daily study time.
Don’t Ignore the Material You Missed
Once a midterm is over, it can be tempting to put that material behind you and focus entirely on what’s coming next. But that can cause problems later, especially in subjects where new concepts build on earlier ones.
If you struggled with algebraic concepts on a math midterm, for example, you may need those same skills later in the semester. Moving forward without addressing the gaps can make new material even harder.
Go back to the concepts you missed and make sure you understand them. Redo missed problems without looking at the answers. Or book a tutor to help you learn and review challenging concepts so you’re prepared to move ahead.
Ask for Help Before the Next Exam
Sometimes a poor midterm reveals a specific content gap. Other times, it points to a bigger challenge with organization, time management, or study skills. Getting support early gives you more time to address those issues before the end of the semester.
At Hodis Learning & Music, tutoring is individualized to each student’s needs and goals. That can mean reviewing difficult course material, preparing for an upcoming exam, or developing better study habits. Sessions are one-on-one so instruction can be adjusted as the student’s needs change.
One disappointing midterm doesn’t have to mean your semester is over. With the right adjustments and support, it can instead become the point when you figure out what needs to change.
If you could use some help making those changes, Hodis Learning & Music offers personalized, one-on-one tutoring designed around each student’s strengths, challenges, and goals. Call us at (626) 227-1149 or submit a contact form to and get started.
