By Lutricia Phiri | Originally published on PDBY | July 22, 2025 | Features, Student Media
As the dust of test week settles—marked by sleepless nights, heavy workloads, and high-pressure assessments—University of Pretoria students find themselves heading straight into the next storm: exam season. It’s a time filled with anxiety, as students juggle sick tests, academic deadlines, part-time jobs, and the uncertainty of qualifying for final exams. For many, it’s also a time of waiting—often nervously—on campus for results and the dreaded possibility of writing supplementary exams.
No one understands the mental tug-of-war between study and leisure quite like a student. After weeks of intense exams, results season brings a mix of relief and apprehension. Some celebrate and head home with joy, while others are hit with a harsh reality—code 999 on their student portal—signalling a failed module and the need for a supplementary exam. It’s a common, and often disheartening, experience.
Lethabo, a UP student, opened up to PDBY about her challenging semester.
“This was honestly the toughest semester so far,” she said. “There was so much happening. Right after we submitted our assignments, it was already test week. I was completely drained. One of my modules had us submit an assignment the day before the test. At some point, I felt like deregistering—it was just too much. But by God’s grace, I made it through.”
Lethabo also faced personal challenges and difficulties with group work, saying, “Who knows this struggle better than a student?” Despite the setbacks, she remained focused. “Exams were exhausting, but I pushed through with hard work, determination, and my personal goals in mind.”
The pressure didn’t let up. “I had three exams in three days,” she said. “I barely slept, and when I found out I had to write a supplementary, I had to put my current studying on hold to focus on that first.” Once she completed the supplementary, she went straight back into prep for her next paper.
Even after exam season officially ends, stress lingers—especially for those who receive a code 999. Many students make early plans to travel home or start their recess, only to have to cancel and stay back for supps. As frustrating as it is, preparing for a supplementary exam is far better than skipping it—because retaking the entire module next year is a far heavier burden.
Lethabo revealed that she had to write more than one supplementary exam this semester. She’s still waiting for results from the final one and hopes to get them soon.
As for the recess, her plans are simple: “I just want to rest and regain my strength for the second semester. I’m looking forward to meeting our new lecturers and getting back into the swing of things.”
There’s a well-known saying: “Fail once, try again until you succeed.” While some say the third time’s the charm, at UP, it’s all about the second chance. Supplementary exams may be tiring, especially with the extra waiting period, but they offer a valuable opportunity to turn things around. And after all the effort and sacrifice, what better way to wrap up a tough semester than knowing you gave it everything you had?
