Understanding why you failed can help you prepare for a retake. Think about how much of this information you’re willing to share with your teacher. They may ask the reason for the retake, and you should be honest. If it’s personal, you can make general allusions: “family problems,” or “a difficult personal period. " It’s unlikely your teacher will pry.
If you’re distracted by a personal issue, be proactive about dealing with what’s bothering you. Failing one test because of it is a sign that it might be affecting your other academic work, not to mention making you unhappy. Talking to friends or your school guidance counselor might help. If you’re struggling with the material, now’s the time to find a tutor who can help you better understand it.
You might need just a few minutes to talk to your teacher, or this could be a longer conversation. It’s a good idea to ask your teacher after class when a good time would be to come talk with them. They might be free then; if not, they’ll suggest a better time. [2] X Research source Don’t approach your teacher before class. This is often a busy moment for teachers and they’re likely to be distracted. [3] X Research source
Also bring any questions you wrote down while looking over your test. Come prepared.
This also makes it clear that you do not blame the teacher for your poor results.
If you’re struggling with the material, ask your teacher for help. They won’t be able to reteach everything right then and there, but they may be able to point you in the right direction. [4] X Research source If you’re considering getting a tutor, ask your teacher if they can recommend someone.
If you don’t know where to begin, ask your teacher to help.
