# I am going to fail **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905 "2010-06-04T11:31:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/1 "2010-06-04T11:31:13Z")
Well, not necessarily fail. The college placement test isn’t a pass/fail kind of test. I am going to do poorly. I haven’t taken a math class since 1997. My math grades in high school were dismal. I knew the material, I just didn’t do my homework. I have been practicing for over a month now. I have used the MCAS study guides and the Khan Academy to prepare. Now it is nearly time to take the test. If I do poorly, I’ll have to take basic math which doesn’t count toward the degree. Since I need college level algebra and statistics to get my degree, I’ll not be able to graduate in 1 year like I planned. Blech. I slept badly last night and I woke up with a headache and an upset stomach. Gee, I wonder why. 😛 I’m going to be really annoyed if I went through all this, and end up doing well, only to not get any financial aid. Of course, I only made $12k last year so I shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the financial aid, which means I’m gonna do shitty on the test. You know, normal people don’t freak out over a community college entrance exam. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/2 "2010-06-04T11:45:25Z")
Sure they do. Good luck! (and now might not be the best time to point out that if you need that sort of math to get your degree, perhaps a refresher course IS needed…) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/3 "2010-06-04T14:38:27Z")
Normal people freak out over things that can have a big impact on their future. That’s true whether its the Medical Boards or a GED. Don’t psyche yourself out. I’m not one for “affirmations” BUT a negative spiral of emotion cannot help you. Just stay focused on the thought, “I’ll do the best I can & we’ll see what happens.” It’s actually the only thing you _can_ do. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/4 "2010-06-04T14:40:15Z")
^ Positive attitude! I think I can, I think I can, I think I can… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/5 "2010-06-04T15:23:25Z")
You may be surprised. I graduated highschool in 79 and went back to college in 86. I was an indifferent student in highschool, but still placed well on my college math placements. Sending good luck thoughts your way. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/6 "2010-06-04T15:36:11Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > You know, normal people don’t freak out over a community college entrance exam. I freaked out retaking my drivers test even though I wouldn’t lose my license if I failed. Freaking over anything you consider a “big deal” is normal and IMHO desirable. Do your best. Pass and all is good for this step. Fail and drop back five and punt. All it means is you need another way or some more time - not that you are a failure. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/7 "2010-06-04T15:52:12Z")
How have you been doing on the practice exams? When I took the GREs, which are very similar to the SATs, which I assume are similar to your test, I had forgotten so much in math that I was able to re-learn about 200 points worth just by taking Princeton Review type practice exams and reading the accompanying material. You already know this stuff, **congo** , it’s just a matter of refreshing your memory and calming down. This is not the end of the world, one way or another. Nothing is written in stone, and the worst possible outcome is that you won’t pass. That’s not the end of the world; it’s not even the end of your life, or of your only chance at happiness. Failing the test may, in fact, be the better outcome; **eleanorigby** has a point. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/8 "2010-06-04T16:16:21Z")
I placed into college algebra!!! I saved $1000 today!!! To place any higher, I’d have to take that other test (CLEP?) to test out of stuff and there’s no way that would ever happen. I am amazed I got anything right on the college math portion. I don’t think I even learned that stuff in high school. But, the basic math and elementary algebra were a breeze! Now I don’t have to take any classes that don’t count toward my major. I was also able to change my major from General Studies to Liberal Arts because my test score proved that I can do high school algebra, even though my transcripts don’t. I am well on my way to being able to transfer to a 4-year college next year!! THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU **needscoffee!** You were the one who directed me to the Khan Academy. The MCAS test books were ok but I learn so much better by having someone show me what I’m supposed to be doing. I made more progress in a week with the Khan Academy than I did with 6 weeks of the MCAS books. I am really annoyed that the test didn’t have any scientific notation. I LIKE scientific notation. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/9 "2010-06-04T16:23:00Z")
Congratulations. Wow!! When did they speed up the grading of college entrance exams, so that you know your score right after you take it? ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/10 "2010-06-04T16:28:17Z")
Yep. It’s been that way at least since '96, which is when I first took it. Just as I finished my test, the door opened and in walked my high school English teacher (for freshman and sophomore year). As soon as I saw him, I started panicking that my score would be embarrassingly low (he used to harass me endlessly when I was still in high school - in a funny way). Luckily it wasn’t. Apparently he retired from the high school and now works as an academic adviser. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/11 "2010-06-04T16:33:16Z")
Congratulations, **congo**. Glad to hear you did well. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/12 "2010-06-04T17:01:48Z")
Yay! Congratulations, **congodwarf**! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/13 "2010-06-04T17:06:33Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU **needscoffee!** You were the one who directed me to the Khan Academy. I’m currently in the process of moving to a new city in a new province and heading back to collage for two years because of a suggestion from **needscoffee**. She rocks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/14 "2010-06-04T18:18:02Z")
Congrats! (See, I \*told \*you, you may be surprised…) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/15 "2010-06-04T18:34:55Z")
Congratulations! > [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I’m currently in the process of moving to a new city in a new province and heading back to **collage** for two years… (bolding mine) Art school? 😉 And yes, **needscoffee** ’s suggestions rock. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/16 "2010-06-04T18:57:21Z")
I think I’ll do a search on needscoffee’s username and start absorbing some of her great wisdom. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/17 "2010-06-04T19:13:22Z")
Congratulations, **congodwarf**! In the continuing battle between me and math (I’m done with all of my masters degree except for the two math classes, which continue to elude me), I’m using Khan Academy, too. It is really helpful, I agree! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/18 "2010-06-04T20:45:11Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Congratulations!(bolding mine) Art school? 😉 > > And yes, **needscoffee** ’s suggestions rock. Oops! Yes I’m going to collage school where I’ll cut out pictures of kitties from magazines and paste them to construction paper. And I’ll sniff the glue. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/19 "2010-06-05T05:40:47Z")
Congrats, kiddo! May they all go this well. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905/20 "2010-06-05T07:07:32Z")
Congratulations, **congodwarf**! > [@Sunspace](#): > > And yes, **needscoffee** ’s suggestions rock. Just another shout-out to **needscoffee**. Her suggestion saved me $12 per printer cartridge with Costco refills. My first refilled cartridge is still working great! Thanks **needscoffee**! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-going-to-fail/541905.md?page=2)