Express Properly - Rephrase the sentence so it sounds good and professional

I want to say that "as i am new to this place, so it took time get used to the environment and get settled. So I could not do my assignment and do well in the exam. But if I get a chance i can make it up to you".

I would be grateful if you can can kindly rephrase the sentence in different way. And the word i am most interested in is ...
make it up to you....... catch up with the flow..... it be great to have a better way to express it.

I am having problem communicate because i am new in sydney. I want a reliable source where i can get advice on how to communicate.

And I will be pleased if you kindly show the mistakes in the question as well (what i have written above). I want to communicate the best way possible.

Thanks in Advance,
Ahmmad Ismail