Uni assignment grade you are not happy with? Here is how to handle it constructively

It’s only natural to feel disappointed if you receive a uni assignment grade you are not happy with. You may not understand how you have lost marks or feel you deserved a better grade. Although it is unlikely you will be able to get your grade changed, here are some tips for handling a bad grade constructively.

Read the feedback carefully 

As well as receiving your grade, you will be provided with some feedback about your performance. The level of detail provided will depend on your university and your lecturer but it is likely you will be told what you did well and what can be improved. 

Some lecturers will provide generic feedback as well which will discuss the performance during the assignment in general, the average grades, what the assignments that achieved high grades did and how students could have improved overall. 

Review your assignment 

Once you have reviewed your feedback, read over your assignment again. Try to understand how it could have been improved. Try to work out precisely how you lost marks. Was there anything you did not include that you should have? Did you present good arguments? Was there enough analysis?

Usually, once you have reviewed your assignment whilst taking into account your feedback it will be easier to see how your assignment could have been improved.

Ask your lecturer for some feedback 

If you genuinely cannot understand your grade or feel that you need additional guidance, it may be worthwhile asking your lecturer if they would be able to go over your assignment with you. 

Remember, not all lecturers will offer this and if they do, they may not be able to spend much time with you. After all, they do have hundreds of students. However, most lecturers will be able to provide you with some feedback even if it’s by email.

Ask to look at a copy of an assignment that achieved a high grade 

It may be a good idea to read an assignment that achieved a higher grade. This will help you see what was required to achieve a high grade and how this student structured their work.

However, your university may not be able to provide you with a copy due to data protection and privacy. If they do it will be anonymous and you may not be allowed to keep a copy. Instead, you could ask your fellow students if anyone would be prepared to share their assignments with you. Not everyone will be comfortable with this though. Be sure to ask politely and respect people’s privacy if they say no. 

Tips 

• Be polite and respectful. There is no point in becoming angry and being rude to your lecturer if you receive a bad uni assignment grade. Not only may they refuse to go over your assignment with you but you might face further action. 
• Remember it is unlikely your grade will be changed. Unless there is strong reason to believe your assignment was not marked properly, it is very unlikely your grade will be changed. 

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