If you earned a failing grade in a class, it is a good idea
to retake the class if you can. Grades
that are lower than a C might not eligible for transfer to a different college
or university and they may not count towards graduation requirements. While those rules will vary, one thing is for
certain: a failed class significantly
lowers your GPA and leaves a blemish on your transcript. Retaking a failed class is your best shot at
limiting the negative effects on your record.
Here are some things to consider if you need to retake a class.
- Be aware of your college’s rules on retakes. Depending on your college’s policies, the grade for the new attempt at the class may replace the old grade or be averaged with the old grade. You will not have an unlimited number of times to retake the class. Colleges have become much more strict about how many times students can retake classes for credit.
- It is a good idea to retake a failed class as soon as possible. Even though you did poorly in the class, the overall knowledge is still fresh in your mind and you can maximize your chances of doing well if you take advantage of that.
- If you are retaking the class with the same instructor, you certainly should review old materials and notes thoroughly, but don’t rely solely on them. Remember, when you used them before, the results were not good, so taking additional notes and approaching the material from a different angle is necessary. Do not assume that all the rules and requirements are the same as the last time you took the class. Instructors do change their syllabi frequently, so make sure you are up to date as well.
- If you are retaking the class with a different instructor, your old materials and notes may or may not be helpful. Instructors often use different textbooks and teach classes using quite different methods. If you found the prior instructor’s teaching style not a good match for your learning style, taking the class with someone else is a good idea if you can possibly do so.
- Take a detailed and honest look at what went wrong the last time you took the class and commit to correcting all of the factors you can possibly control. If you failed the class because you did not read the text, study enough, or have good class attendance, those are relatively easy to work on. If there were class assignments or tests that puzzled you, talk to your instructor and/or seek tutoring help. Be proactive as possible to help assure your success in the class this time around so you can continue advancing toward your educational goals.
