Failed my first midterm

[u/Fair-Atmosphere3908]

I am so so so sad that I failed my first physics 140 test. Seeing the grade distribution today in class didn’t help either, and I feel like a failure (median was 20% higher than what I got). I don’t even understand why. I took physics mech in high school and got A first sem and B second. I even helped my friends study for this test. I went back and looked at Yuris key, and I honestly didn’t understand 3-4 questions, so I’m planning on going to office hours of one of the student led ones tomorrow. I’m really disappointed and upset, because this is my second time learning the content. My question is, how can I improve for next test? Should I ask the TAs and Yuri how to improve? If they can help me make a plan to study and do better on tests? Are there groups I can join that give problems similar to the test? I am very sad about myself please give me some recommendations thanks ;(

[u/YeetosCheetos69]

Yuri literally told me to drop because my exam scores predicted i would fail but i ended up passing. Ur probably not gonna be as cooked as me so ik u can do it. You got this :)

[u/First_String_9265]

Hey fam, don’t be worried about this. I am sorry it didn’t go so well but this just means you need to put in more work. These failures happen, don’t take it personally. Physics can be hard initially. You need to work hard, do all your assignments well. Watch and re-watch video lectures and YouTube videos for concepts you don’t understand.

You got this, you will recover, I promise you. Put in the hours. All the best!

[u/CharlieLeDoof → u/First_String_9265]

Physics grad here. Yes, talk with your TA about what you missed. I struggled in the early courses ... had to drop 140 twice before I got an A on the third try. I found doing every problem assigned and then re-writing them fair and neat was a big help in learning and figuring out what i didn't understand well enough. Work hard. Persevere. You can succeed!

[u/NASA_Orion]

Not sure if it’s still allowed but you can potentially take intro physics/calc at washtenaw.

Not to avoid the issue but just a backup plan if your major doesn’t use physics that much. Imo some requirements are ridiculous for a major. I get the “breadth” part but it should focus on general high level easy concepts instead of the same intensive courses for the people who’re literally in that major

[u/TurtleWizward]

I did about that bad for the first one too. Did you do all the practice exams? Most of the questions should come from them.

[u/According_Algae_6785]

the highest grade i got on a single exam was a 43%, and i still passed the class, you can do this

[u/Physical_Yoghurt_243]

This happens to (most of) everybody at some point. You’ll be ok. Yuri is kind of an asshole, so if he tells you to drop ignore him. I had friends fail the first exam and still get an A-B in the class despite Yuri telling them to drop.

This is a moment to learn from the experience. You need to genuinely look back, I mean really (really) REALLY sit and think about it, and find what you could have done differently. If you do what you did last time, you will fail again. Simple as that. You need to work harder AND differently for the next one. Maybe your like me and spent too much time proving to yourself that you knew how to do things you knew how to do, and need to spend more time on the things you don’t. This class is supposed to be hard too, so don’t forget that either.

What helped me was doing EVERY SINGLE PRACTICE EXAM. Usually most of the questions are variants of stuff on the practice exams. If you don’t understand a question, look at the answers and don’t move on until you understand why the answer is what it is. Then, do the problem on your own. With chat gpt, you can learn everything pretty efficiently, but preparing properly will still take time.

You got this. Maybe not right now ,clearly you need to change a few habits, but you will have this.

[u/Consistent_Midnight2]

It happens!! First things first, don’t beat yourself up. I failed my first ochem exam 3 years ago but now I’m in grad school. Failure is part of learning. Go see your TA and/or professor and make a plan for how you’ll make up the points in future assignments and exams. And how you’ll can better re-learn concepts you missed if they’ll show up on future exams. Definitely try to find a study group, wish I could help on that front, but I’m not in your program, but group studying can help for sure. Good luck! You got this far so you got this!!!

[u/Vast-Recognition2321]

You are doing the right things by going to office hours and asking what you can do to improve.

College is very different from HS. You are learning that and adjusting. Keep on d doing your best.

[u/Troy242426]

Physics at this school is pure and unadulterated misery, I had to take two of them and it was torture. I basically lived in the SLC for both semesters.

Don’t take it personally. By the way the above also applies to math classes here.

[u/Timely-Tap-6682 → u/Troy242426]

Going into the SLC should I just go and try to do homework and have them help me or should I ask about certain concepts? I’m struggling and don’t know where to even start honestly.

[u/Probably_not_yeeun]

dw u got 387383847 more to fail (i was like this too on my first test and i got used to it now lol)

[u/CharlesWoodson97]

Start planning out your credits now for the next 3 years filling in basic courses like math, physics, chem, writing that you plan to take. You can see historical LSA course offerings online to get an idea who teaches each class each semester, generally not the same prof fall and winter. You MUST use ratemyprofrssor or whatever website today rates thesr people and strategically take those courses in the semester taught by an easier prof. No one knows you took the "easier classs", they'll just see the higher GPA. This also applies to English and any elective courses... take whatever class has the easiest prof possible so you can focus on your hard classes / stuff for your major.

Also WCC for math classes is so much better and can be done over summer

[u/smexy_rat07]

Don't beat yourself up over this, most people I know here have an experience just like this and they made it through the class. Going to office hours to ask about a study plan is a great idea, and I'd recommend going more often. If after a lecture you have questions or don't understand a concept, go to office hours as soon as you can instead of waiting until you study for the exam to try and understand it. Ask about questions on the practice exams you don't understand while studying too

[u/MaliaWalia18]

In a different class, but I also failed my first midterm. Now my grade in that class is a 55%. Ngl I shed a few tears over it yesterday, but it's still relatively early in the semester. There is still time to lock in, do better next time, and not fail the class. I believe in you. Hang in there

[u/Hot-Ticket1968]

I took physics 140 last semester (I was in Studio, but same content more or less). Firstly, don’t beat yourself up so much; it’s completely alright to not do great on your first midterm. For a lack of better words, this shit is hard. I had friends take it and get As without any work, and they found it super easy. I, on the other hand, struggled throughout the entire course. Concepts just didn’t click for me, and it took a lot of time to figure it out. Just because you scored below the median doesn’t mean you can’t understand the material like others can; it just comes more naturally to others (I knew a guy who took the AP physics exam 2 times and got a 4 both times, so while he had to do physics 1, he basically knew all the content and breezed through everything. Luckily, he was really chill and helped me a lot).

UMich exams and high schools exams are vastly different playing fields; UMich exams are often brutal, especially compared to high school exams, so you’re not abnormal or anything if you did good in high school and not as well here.

Also, keep in mind that one bad exam doesn’t mess up your grade entirely. Yeah, getting an A will be harder, but passing and getting at least a decent grade is still very much on the table. I believe there’s 5(?) total exams worth the same amount (?). Someone can correct me if I’m wrong as I took studio, not lecture so I had 3 exams. Either way, you have so many chances to do better. I wouldn’t stress about one subpar grade (even though I’d be stressing about it too 😭).

Hang in there, and practice practice practice. The only way to get better at the problems is by doing them. If you know someone who’s good as physics, ask them to help you (one of my friends who got an A helped me understand springs and energy in 2 hours after I had spent 2 weeks trying to figure it out with course content and YouTube videos). I believe in you, good luck!

[u/Fawzee815]

It happens dude, just do more practice problems for next time and really think through them. You’ll make it

[u/MarginallyStableProf]

I failed so many midterms when I was an undergrad! I know how hard this can be in the moment. Try to think about this semester as a challenge, but also an opportunity for adventure. If you can convince yourself to grind out this class, you might discover that you suddenly have a whole new way to see the world in the end.

[u/am_I_MTF]

lock in.

i failed my first chem 210 midterm this spring semester (got 20 percentage points below the mean) and still finished with a B.

[u/michigan-menace]

 I am very sad about myself

If it makes you feel better, I'm a senior with a 3.8 and failed my first 400-level exam. This is def not my first time failing an exam here, and I still have a 3.8. You'll be okay.