If you pass the college make-up exam, you won't fail, but even if you pass the make-up exam, there will still be a record of failure on our report card. Failing a course means that students fail to meet the minimum score requirements in a semester or a school year, or fail to take exams or submit homework, resulting in a final score of zero. Failing a course means that students have not achieved enough results or demonstrated enough ability in a certain subject.