The past tense is more appropriate in this context, because the failure is definitive and complete.
By contrast, the present perfect might be used if two students were leaving an exam, without, of course, knowing the results. One might say to the other ‘I know I’ve got a supply in anatomy’, to which the other might reply ‘Don’t be so pessimistic. You may have done better than you think.’ In that case, the first student’s use of the present perfect is appropriate, because the assumed result is relevant to the conversation.
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