-
Finished your HSC? Check out our University Discussion, Non-School forums or help out next year's HSC students! -
YOU can help the next generation of students in the community! Share your trial papers and notes on our Notes & Resources page
Tips, Advice and Tricks you wished you knew or where told at the start of Year 12 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mmm345
- Start date
strawberrye
Premium Member
homeandaway1
New Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2016
- Messages
- 1
- Gender
- Female
- HSC
- 2018
Hi these are some tips that my cousin gave to me when i satrted year 12 this year
Tricks
The syllabus is your friend
Each subject has a detailed syllabus which is the best guide for both study and exams. Use it to make detailed notes on every dot point in the content section. Textbooks do not always present the information in the same way as the syllabus. So use textbooks and other references to prepare your detailed notes
Have a study buddy
Plan study sessions of about one hour either in school study times or after school. Ask one another difficult questions and review multiple choice questions.
At home
Studying late into the night may suit some students but most do best when there is good natural light and you're alert. Make yourself a hard copy study timetable and include your commitments to sport, fitness, friends and part-time work. Displayed the timetable prominently in your study space for family to see. That way they know when they are expected to be quiet and when you need their support.
Practice exam techniques
Doing past papers in set time limits is an ideal way to prepare for exams. Do them regularly and then reward yourself with a healthy treat. Check answers and sample answers at the Board of Studies' site.
Some exams are three hours' long so you need stamina.
It's tough
Allow yourself to say study is tough, sometimes tedious and repetitive. Give yourself a day off every so often so you are revitalised.
Your health
keep up your sports, go for walks with earphones on, listen to study notes you may have recorded or music you enjoy, make sure your adults keep you well supplied with healthy food. Drink lots of water.
Ask for help
Parents, teachers and friends want you to do your best, and want you to be happy and healthy while you are doing the HSC. Exams are challenging and while a little stress can be a good thing, if you are feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone.
Tips
1. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class. Chances are someone else also wants to know the same thing. If you are unsure about a concept, what is required for an assessment or an ideabeing discussed, don't go home confused.
2. Change your study zone - "same, same" is boring and you may lose concentration. Study at a cafe, local library, in the park.
3. Do things that aren't just study or stressing about study. Hang out with friends at least once a week. You might think you don't have time for it, but it relaxes your mind and gives you a break.
4. Use study periods to compile notes, show teachers your work and ask for feedback. Be lenient with late starts and early finishes - they are really good, but if you go to school early or stay for an extra period to study you will get a lot more done.
5. There is no point to knowing everything on the syllabus if you don't know how to adapt it to exam-style questions under time limits. Test yourself with practice papers.
6. Make acronyms with quotes or key concepts as they're easier to remember, watch videos, use flashcards and write a term or idea on one side, a definition on the other side, and read the cards before you go to bed. Use your fridge or bathroom mirror as a note board and post key formulas, concepts or mind maps.
7. Practise writing with a pen, often.Choose pens with a good grip. Warm up your hands before exams and shake them around to loosen up your wrists. It can make quick writing easier.
8. Sleep, especially on the night before an exam. Then have a solid breakfast, get to school early, listen to music that relaxes you and have a quick revision, but stop 15 minutes before the exam. Surround yourself with positivity – you don't want to be around someone who is freaking out beforehand as it will make you more nervous and lose focus.
9. It's not about memorising. It's about understanding the concepts and thinking outside the box. You need to know your work inside out in order to write about it effectively in an exam.
10. No matter how academic you are, the HSC is all about persistence and discipline. Getting a 'bad' mark on an assessment will not be detrimental to your final mark. What's important is that you learn where you went wrong, target those areas, keep practising, improving and strengthening your work.
Tricks
The syllabus is your friend
Each subject has a detailed syllabus which is the best guide for both study and exams. Use it to make detailed notes on every dot point in the content section. Textbooks do not always present the information in the same way as the syllabus. So use textbooks and other references to prepare your detailed notes
Have a study buddy
Plan study sessions of about one hour either in school study times or after school. Ask one another difficult questions and review multiple choice questions.
At home
Studying late into the night may suit some students but most do best when there is good natural light and you're alert. Make yourself a hard copy study timetable and include your commitments to sport, fitness, friends and part-time work. Displayed the timetable prominently in your study space for family to see. That way they know when they are expected to be quiet and when you need their support.
Practice exam techniques
Doing past papers in set time limits is an ideal way to prepare for exams. Do them regularly and then reward yourself with a healthy treat. Check answers and sample answers at the Board of Studies' site.
Some exams are three hours' long so you need stamina.
It's tough
Allow yourself to say study is tough, sometimes tedious and repetitive. Give yourself a day off every so often so you are revitalised.
Your health
keep up your sports, go for walks with earphones on, listen to study notes you may have recorded or music you enjoy, make sure your adults keep you well supplied with healthy food. Drink lots of water.
Ask for help
Parents, teachers and friends want you to do your best, and want you to be happy and healthy while you are doing the HSC. Exams are challenging and while a little stress can be a good thing, if you are feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone.
Tips
1. Don't be afraid to ask questions in class. Chances are someone else also wants to know the same thing. If you are unsure about a concept, what is required for an assessment or an ideabeing discussed, don't go home confused.
2. Change your study zone - "same, same" is boring and you may lose concentration. Study at a cafe, local library, in the park.
3. Do things that aren't just study or stressing about study. Hang out with friends at least once a week. You might think you don't have time for it, but it relaxes your mind and gives you a break.
4. Use study periods to compile notes, show teachers your work and ask for feedback. Be lenient with late starts and early finishes - they are really good, but if you go to school early or stay for an extra period to study you will get a lot more done.
5. There is no point to knowing everything on the syllabus if you don't know how to adapt it to exam-style questions under time limits. Test yourself with practice papers.
6. Make acronyms with quotes or key concepts as they're easier to remember, watch videos, use flashcards and write a term or idea on one side, a definition on the other side, and read the cards before you go to bed. Use your fridge or bathroom mirror as a note board and post key formulas, concepts or mind maps.
7. Practise writing with a pen, often.Choose pens with a good grip. Warm up your hands before exams and shake them around to loosen up your wrists. It can make quick writing easier.
8. Sleep, especially on the night before an exam. Then have a solid breakfast, get to school early, listen to music that relaxes you and have a quick revision, but stop 15 minutes before the exam. Surround yourself with positivity – you don't want to be around someone who is freaking out beforehand as it will make you more nervous and lose focus.
9. It's not about memorising. It's about understanding the concepts and thinking outside the box. You need to know your work inside out in order to write about it effectively in an exam.
10. No matter how academic you are, the HSC is all about persistence and discipline. Getting a 'bad' mark on an assessment will not be detrimental to your final mark. What's important is that you learn where you went wrong, target those areas, keep practising, improving and strengthening your work.
chiefpasco
Member
Understand how the ATAR/HSC actually work on the technical side - and then you will truly understand the value of ranks.
laurajayne_
New Member
excellent advice!
I agree with all of these points!
Also remember your final mark is made up of : 50% your assessments throughout the year, 50% your performance on the day in the exam. So you want to do your level best all year, not just in the exam.
I agree with all of these points!
Also remember your final mark is made up of : 50% your assessments throughout the year, 50% your performance on the day in the exam. So you want to do your level best all year, not just in the exam.