From the Academic Team
Year 12 2024 – HSC Myths and Active Study Methods
The Year 12 2024 cohort have started this term with a diligent work ethic and are demonstrating high impact learning strategies which will aid in their preparation for their upcoming assessment tasks.
In a recent assembly, we were able to debunk some common myths around how HSC marks are calculated, ranks, moderation, scaling and early entry university applications. Click here to view the presentation.
Our main message was that success is all about mindset:
- Work together as a cohort from the start
- Be proactive and use your class time, study periods and After Hours tutors effectively
- Focus on your own journey and progress, success will look different for everyone
- Own any mistakes, learn from them, and move on
In their Study lesson during MBS, we went through some ACTIVE study methods. Writing study notes is valuable but is passive so should only be a small part of study. Active methods which require students to recall their knowledge and understanding are most important. E.g., ‘Brain blurting’, flash cards for spaced repetition and practice HSC style questions.
We also discussed the importance of monotasking. Neuroscience research shows that we are not wired for multitasking. Setting a timer and focusing on one task at a time will increase productivity, quality and lower stress levels.
We asked our new Learning Prefects – Tijana Jayaweera and Mulan Xu and Academic Prefect -Yuki Wang for their advice as Year 9 and 10 prepare for exams and Year 12 prepare for assessments.
What is your best study method that you have used in the past?
- For English, the best study method by far is to do practice essays or paragraphs, and to put yourself under timed pressure – not only does this get you more used to the stress of in-class writing tasks, but it also lets you overcome the need to make every sentence perfect. Sometimes, you’ve just got to get words out of your brain and onto paper – and often, when you get into the real flow of essay writing, the idea you are trying to articulate sorts itself out into a logical sequence and it’s so much easier to do again in the future. Understand and memorise quotes and key analysis to these quotes, make mind maps for your themes, and build your essay off that rather than memorising pre-prepared essays.
- For maths and science (and whenever possible for all other subjects), one of the most worthwhile methods is to do lots of past papers, and don’t forget to mark them (ask a more objective friend to help out for long answer questions).
- Lastly, our best study method in general is testing your knowledge with friends and learning together, as it really helps to consolidate your knowledge, and sometimes you will know what topics you are confident in and need to work on. Hearing the ideas and perspectives of others is also really beneficial for your learning, particularly with humanities subjects.
What is a mistake you made in preparing for exams that you would not want to repeat?
- Not covering all the dot points in the syllabus. Sometimes the tiny details of a big topic get neglected but remember that it is important to study absolutely everything you have learnt.
- An easy trap to fall into when studying for English and previously Chemistry was copying and re-writing notes to “study”. It can be a comforting activity because you have all the information in one place, and the ritual of writing is a passive, no-thought-required process (and super satisfying when you produce a neat stack of beautifully laid-out notes), and it’s totally a great thing to do if you’re feeling stuck, unmotivated and/or lost about the content – however, it is essential to remember that note-writing doesn’t activate the deeper, critical thinking you use when you are actively forced to create or write something, for example when doing a practice long response, practice papers, or teaching the concept to one of your friends.
- Memorising essays for English. It’s a bad habit to get into and isn’t sustainable in the long run.
What is one thing that you like to ‘tell yourself’ on the day of an exam to help to have a positive mindset?
- I tell myself that no matter what the result is, it is the opportunity to show my understanding of what I have learned and knowing what I am confident or not so confident in, so I can improve on my skills.
- I tell myself that I can’t let negative thoughts get to me, remind myself that I know the content and acknowledge that I have prepared efficiently and sufficiently for this exam. I’ve found that talking to your friends right before an exam about how unprepared you are makes you feel so much more nervous and undermines your determination to do well before you’ve even started, so always think self-affirming thoughts!
- It is vital not to compare yourself with others, both before and after an exam. Everyone prepares and studies differently and to different extents based on their needs, so comparing is pointless.
Year 9 and 10 Term 4 Examinations
Year 9 and 10 examinations will take place from Wednesday 25th October until Wednesday 1st November.
The timetable for the examination period was given to students in Week 10 of Term 3. And you can find a copy of them here:
Examinations are run in three sessions. Students are required to arrive to their allocated rooms at the following times:
Session 1: 8:15
Session 2: 10:40
Session 3: 1:30
Supervised study has been organised for students who wish to remain on Campus. Please note that there is the expectation that all students who have examinations in Session 1 and Session 3 will remain on Campus in Session 2.
A copy of the exam timetable has been emailed to students along with the examination protocols and procedures; you can access these documents by clicking on their respective file name: