Can I pray the guidance prayer (Al-Istikharah prayer) to pass exams?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

The guidance prayer was legislated to help a person choose between two choices when they do not know which one is better. The messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to teach his followers and companions how to pray the guidance prayer.

Jabir Ibn Abdullah narrated that the prophet (PBUH) used to teach us Al-Istikharah Prayer as he used to teach us the Surah of the Qur’an. The prophet said: “When one of you contemplates entering upon an enterprise, let him perform two Rak’ahs of optional prayer other than Fard (obligatory) prayer, and then supplicate:  (O Allah, I consult You through Your Knowledge, and I seek strength through Your Power, and ask of Your Great Bounty, for You are Capable whereas I am not, and You know, and I do not, and You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if you know that this matter (and name it) is good for me in respect of my religion (Islam), my livelihood, and consequences of my affairs, (or he said) the sooner or the later of my affairs, then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if You know this matter (and name it) to be bad for my religion, my livelihood, or the consequences of my affairs (or he said) the sooner or the later of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and grant me power to do good whatever it may be, and cause me to be contended with it.” And let the supplicant specify the object (matter).

This is the inherited supplication. It is preferred that a Muslim says these words (supplication) when they want to choose between two options. Whoever cannot say them, because they cannot memorize all of them, can say other supplications that give the same meaning. A foreigner Muslim can also pray and say supplications, which give the same intention and meaning, in their own language.

However, I do not think that a student wants to choose between success or failure. Surely, success is the primary goal. Thus, all you have to do is to be prepared and to study, then put all your trust in Allah. In other words, you have to do every thing that leads to success, and then rely on Allah.