Is lying when answering friends' questions about failing and studying, for fear of scandal, considered forbidden, and what is the correct course of action in this situation?

Lying is informing against reality, and it is forbidden by consensus, as indicated by the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "You must be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful one with Allah. Beware of lying, for lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Fire. A man continues to lie and strives for lying until he is written as a great liar with Allah."

The questioner could have used a veiled answer, such that his friends would understand something other than what he intended, such as saying: "The result is not bad, and in the future, I will enter such-and-such a college if things become easy." We advise him to repent to Allah for lying.