So the HSC exams are slowly but surely approaching. Actually, no. They are fast approaching.
At this point you might wondering whether or not you really are prepared for the exams, if you're ready to actually tackle any question they may hurl at you. Yes, exams are intimidating, daunting for some. This however does not mean we cannot do well. It does not mean that we are not capable of scoring the best marks possible.
Of course this requires dedication, practice and an effective study regime but as a HSC-veteran myself, I believe that there is one often neglected, often forgotten ingredient, that is lost in the midst of all the preparation that is invested into our HSC studies.
I've been told that the HSC is like running a marathon. It's impossible to be sprinting the whole way round the HSC course because you'll burn your energy before you even reach the finish line. This is inefficient and can cause not only heightened anxiety and stress but also lead to symptoms of 'study fatigue' i.e., you get so drained from such high levels of studying that you no longer even want to invest time into learning anymore.
A more effective way of approaching this is to be more calculative of the time and effort you spend studying, consider what types of studying you are doing (revision, completing an entire exam paper under timed conditions, passively reading one's notes, question practice, independent research, memorising content/ syllabus etc.), and determining which requires high versus low effort, and which has high versus low impact.
Determining which study practices are beneficial is a matter of tossing up between their individual characteristics. Whilst low effort study like passively reading the notes you've already made for a particular module is easy, you want to think about how much of this type of preparation you engage in relative to the impact it has on your actual learning experience.
Of course this differs across each individual scenario - some students like myself might actually benefit greatly from this type of revision, whereas others might not as much. In contrast, sitting down and completing an entire paper for a subject is obviously a high effort task. Having a combination of these different study techniques is important because your 'study fuel' will be preserved over a longer course.
Once again, figuring out what exactly works for you is important because students learn in diverse ways. Though social media nowadays places so much emphasis on the importance of being productive, 'productivity' is measured and quantified different for each person, contingent upon unique learning styles. Don't fall into the trap of this illusion. It leads only to guilt, self-deprecation and shame, which is something you don't need leading up to the HSC.
Whilst healthy comparison is always good and learning from others is one of the most important things to engage in when studying, ensure that you exercise your own personal judgement about what works for you, the regimes you have implemented and how this differs considerably across the entire population of students.
The HSC is a game that needs to be played strategically. Ever player will have their own unique skills set and these capabilities can be utilised - maximised and optimised - in different ways. Think about your own profile as a HSC student and tailor your approach effectively.
If you are interested in more study tips or want to get in contact with one of our state ranking academics for the HSC, feel free to contact us!
