Tarot can be sort of funny that way. What happened when you drew the card? Immediately you experienced tremendous anxiety and dread in that moment. It reflected what you feared. But let’s take a moment to examine the elements of the card itself. The number 9 is the last number before 10, which represents the end of a suit in Tarot, thus the end of a cycle. What is taking place in your life? You are studying for your exam. Something necessary to end one cycle and begin another. What will happen if you happen to pass? It will be the end of one cycle of stress. 9s represent a last stand before the materialization of your hard won efforts. Not the result itself necessarily.
Now, let’s look at the suit of Spades. I’m assuming this is an RWS clone that is nearly impossible to find any information on, but follows some traditional cartomancy principles, which would align Spades with Swords. Hence all the mental manifestions of the card’s energy. The worst of what you are likely to experience in relation to this card is in your perception of the matter at hand.
How did you phrase your question? I find this to be more important than people anticipate. Did you frame your question in the positive or in the negative? For instance, you could ask, “If I continue to apply myself to my studies as I am currently, what will be the outcome of my exam?”
Though, it’s quite likely that your answer was clear. If the 9 of Spades is an RWS clone it would indicate that your fears are not necessarily reflective of reality. The 9 of Swords is the card of the nightmare. Something that occurs in the deep, dark recesses of our subconscious mind while we sleep, only to be chased away by the truth of morning light. Which is never as awful as we imagine.
Also- I would not limit myself to shuffling three times. I would concentrate on your question and shuffle until you’re comfortable. This may mean three times. It may mean 12 or 20. I’ve been reading for thirty years and sometimes I shuffle a deck for a full five minutes. It just depends. There’s no hard and fast rule.