How to Pass Any Exam

I recently discovered a superpower and I want to share this story so that you can have it too.

It was an ordinary semester, just like any other semester.
But then right before midterms I got sick and messed up my robotics midterm. I got 0.17/10 which is practically 1%(no this is not a typo 😂 ). 😭
Making matters worse, in this class you have to have at least 40% in the average of both midterms inorder to pass the class. For context the class average was 50%. So, I pretty much have to go from worst of the class to best.
At first I blamed it on being sick, and the teacher grading to harshly and life being unfair. But then I realized I've done exams in much harder conditions(Once I had 2*3h finals in one day, thx university) and still did well. The real problem was that
1)I didnt study because yes I was sick
2)I told myself that I'm sick so I wont be able to do as well as usual
3)I was in a hurry because the stupid bus was late.
Not all hope is lost, there is still the second midterm, I only need like 80% on it, I'll definitely be fine, yikes

5 weeks left before the exam
If I cant even do it I have to odd do it right :) ). I cant give up without a fair fight. So, I went over all the material and compiled a list of questions. I went to office hours and the teacher was actually really helpful and explained well. He recommended me to read the text book but that did not turnout to be successful. Strange notation and examples were too simplified.

3 weeks left before the exam
I not only made a generalized summary sheet like I do for all my classes but I also algebraically wrote out the different scenarios of how to solve questions similar to the assignment.
I was still very worried but I knew I could do it if I fully believed it(not just say I believe it but really believe it) because I know the brain can do amazing things. When I had 2 finals on the same day I was so determined that that wasnt gonna screw me over that my brain kept me fully awake and focused the whole time without coffee. I repeat, without coffee! I was super tired the next day but that was to be expected.

A week before the exam
I went to office hours to clarify a few more things but in my head I had already won. I knew the material inside out, I was confident and everything was going smoothly. But in the back of my head I was worried: what if Im overconfident? is it really possible to score so much higher than the class average?
I try to visualize myself getting a good grade and I told myself that I'm working hard, I know the material and I deserve to get a good grade. I got this right?

The big day
Finally, the big day came. I relaxed, did a very short review of everything and went to school 2 hours early(I'm not taking any chances this time). At school, I took it easy, went for a short walk, ate lunch and relaxed singing "this is my fight song" by Rachel Platten to myself in my head.
Finally the moment came, There were 2 questions with 7 parts each. I read the first question. I dont fully understand it, so I skip it and go to question 2. Q2a) I have no idea how to do it but parts b though g depend on it. Dont Panic!
I decide to just leave it as variables and solve it algebraically for now. After 1 and a half hours I finish question 2. Rereading Q1a) it makes a bit more sense and after thinking about it, I am able to write stuff down.
The 2 hours dedicated for the exam are over but no one has left the exam room yet so the teacher asks a random student in the front row how many more minutes they think they need. The student says 15min.
I still have parts e,f and g left for Q1. I cant figure them out for the life of me, but I still try to write down some formulas that I think are related and try to logic my way out. The 15min pass. Only like 2 or so students are done so the teacher gives a final 15min more. For 10 more minutes I try my best and finally give my papers in.
In front of the classroom I talk with other student about the exam, everyone found it super hard. This really is an impossible class.
I go home. I have mixed feeling, on one hand I'm still hopeful but on the other hand I'm convinced I failed, its over. My best wasnt enough.
I'm sad about it all evening, but by the next morning I realized I have to move on and focus on all my other homework and make sure I pass my other classes.

Plot twist
A week later, the teacher comes in and puts the pile of exams on his desk but announces that before getting our grades we will have a guest lecturer.
I try to listen and the talk is interesting enough that after a few minutes I am able to keep the exams on the desk in the back of my mind.
The talk ends and the teacher starts handing out the exam papers. All the students around me get 50s, 40s, 30s. I'm really getting nervous now.
Finally, I hear my name, OMG!!!!! I got 81.6% !!!! what??!! In my head I just won the lottery.

If I can pull of a zero to hero story, then so can you. Good luck I believe in you

My Recipe

Believe that you can do it, because chances are you are better than you think
do the work

Understand, dont just memorize
focus on what you dont understand and on the big picture, not on what you already know
take brakes, extra fries(sorry I meant exercise :) ), fresh air
Write yourself a formula sheet or a step by step instruction sheet for problems you think could be on the exam. Make sure these dont contain simplifications because they might not hold in all situations.
It's not about how many hours you put in, it's about the output
make friends in the class so that you have study buddies

Dont do the same mistakes

If you did badly in the first exam then something clearly went wrong, so studying the same way as always aint gonna cut it. You have to change something.
go to office hours, ask your friends how they study, look at the textbook, just try different strategies and see what works
go over the solution of assignments, previous exams, etc... and try to learn from your mistakes

Sleep
On the day of the exam, relax and trust yourself
O and dont take life so seriously, no one comes out alive anyway
(I guess I still need to learn that :) )

Why It Works: The Subconscious Mind

Take responsibility for your actions and the things that "happened to you". Dont live in a victimhood mindset. This can sound terrifying but its actually freeing because you have the power to change it and fix it. Stop giving your power away.

Visualizing your goals helps because it gives you selfconfidence but mostly because if you know what you want it's easier to find actions you can take to accomplish those dreams.
Also, be clear on why you want it, because sometimes you think you want something but you actually want something deeper.

Reflection. Once a day, or once a week, or whatever fits your schedule, just sit and do nothing and just let your brain wonder off for a few minutes(you can write down your thoughts if you want but if you feel like that adds friction then dont). This can take many forms, journaling, meditation, simply staring at a wall for 5min, or going outside and looking up at the stars.
If you are constantly trying to focus on this thing and then that thing, and then that other thing, your brain can never relax and so it learns to always hyper focus and be hyper vigilant which is also known as anxiety. This is not the ownly(lol only :) ) root cause of anxiety(there are many) but it is one of the main causes. If you feel like you are unable to be in the present moment this is the cure(at least for me). If you are worried of overthinking and catastrophizing then you need to work on the next bullet point and then come back to this one later.

Confirmation bias, your brain and body need to stay in alignment with what is "true". In other words, if you think you cant do it you will fail while if you believe you can do it you will succeed. However, changing this mindset is difficult because if you told yourself all your life that you are bad at something and then one day wake up and say I'm good at this thing your brain will generate a whole list of reasons why what you just said is false.
However, all hope is not lost. I dont yet fully understand how to change this mindset but I know it has a lot to do with
1)you have to create proof for yourself that you can do it,
2)modify the memories that prove that you cant do it such that they do not stop you anymore from succeeding,
3) and finally understand and resolve the secondary gains associated with you not being good at that thing.

For Inspiration, Relaxation and Further Reading

for inspiration:

-Michelle Khare's videos like her figure skating video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL28tcsAVJs
or here black belt in 90 days video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8cLu90cV20

-Leap, a movie about 2 orphans escaping to Paris to accomplish there dreams, my favorite quote from the movie: "you get the part because you have something she can only dream of, passion"
The soundtrack is also really good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpEE_j6AqXI&list=PLxJAByBmlex6G0koyAB_IzJ2MYOjhFyBn

for relaxation:

-https://www.youtube.com/@TheBucketListFamily

further reading: a book about the subconscious mind

- "Mind Change: Changing The World One Mind At A Time", by Heather Mckean

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