Finally, the wait is over — the much anticipated day is almost here after 3 tortuous, nail-biting months. It’s the day you receive your SPM results.While it’s understandable to be a bundle of nerves as you await your results, it helps to know what to expect when you collect your results slip.

Here are 5 things you'll likely experience on judgment day.

#1. You will be extremely nervous

You'll probably feel nervous and jittery as you head to school or load the results screen online. But don’t worry! It’s perfectly normal to be a ball of anxiety, with wild thoughts about the outcome of your grades running through your mind.

“Will I crumble to the ground in dramatic despair? Will my parents disown me?”

“Will I tear the slip of paper into pieces and demand an appeal?”

“What if my friends get better grades than me?”

While your worries are warranted, that’s no reason to get carried away. Instead, listen to some relaxing music or chat with a friend to distract yourself from what you’re feeling — as the saying goes, “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.”

#2. Your classmates will be a bundle of nerves

If you thought you were nervous about your SPM results, wait till you see your kiasu classmates emitting their nervous energy to anyone else who has the misfortune of being near them.

If you’re not up to being surrounded by others who are a bundle of nerves, you can always skip going to school and check your results online instead. Or, consider going with someone who can give you some moral support.

Stay away from your nervous group of friends if they’re making you feel worse about yourself. After all, at this point, there’s nothing you can do about your results but wait it out.

#3. There will be cheers (and tears)

Once the SPM results slips are out, you can expect your phone to be abuzz with cacophony — there will be screams of elation, disheartened cries or a mix of both. You can also expect words of congratulations or reassurances.

If your SPM results are worse than you had expected, all hope is not lost. Give yourself time to let your sadness flow, but remember to move on. Strive to do better in college and avoid ruminating about your past mistakes — they serve no purpose unless you choose to do something about them.

Conversely, if you performed well or did better than you had expected, it certainly is a cause for celebration, but don’t forget to congratulate your friends who also performed well, and comfort those who didn’t.

#4. Your parents will be there for you no matter your results

Your parents have probably stuck with you through thick and thin, sitting through your late-night revisions, comforting you during any nervous breakdowns and even coached you in your studies in areas you struggled with or forked out hundreds of ringgit to hire a tutor to pull your grades up. No doubt that they'll be as anxious as you are about your SPM results.

So be sure to spare them the anxious wait and let them be the first people you share your results with!

If you performed worse than expected, we know your parents may initially express their disappointment, but rest assured, they’ll love and support you no matter what. Or, if you performed well, you can take comfort in knowing that your parents will be beaming with pride on the inside, even if they’re not vocal about how proud they are of your performance!

#5. Your teachers will be proud of your achievements

They have taught you for 2 years, seen your struggles and have guided you through the syllabus, determined to see you pass SPM with flying colours. All those annoying tests, pop quizzes and incessant scolding were not for nothing after all!

However, regardless of your grades, your teachers will still be proud of your efforts. So don’t worry if you didn't score a string of As in your exam — your teachers will be happy that you could pull your grade up from a D to a B under their guidance.

Don’t forget to share your results with them and to express your gratitude for their help — you wouldn’t be where you are now without them.

We know the wait is painful, but no matter the outcome of your SPM results, be proud of yourself for giving it your best. Your grades do not define you, and it’s not the end of the world if your SPM results are less-than-desired. All the best!