Cramming: The HSC Habit You Need to Quit

Feb 27, 2020

We all know the feeling. It’s the night before an important assessment task and you are filled with panic, guilt and anxiety. You know you should’ve started on this long ago, but you’ve been busy and you’ve been distracted. Between school, sport, work and all of your other commitments, you simply haven’t devoted enough time and energy to this task. You might even be feeling a bit guilty about all those hours you spent on Instagram and TikTok when you could’ve been preparing.

So, what do you do? You cram. You spend hours upon hours frantically trying to learn and remember everything that you’re going to need for tomorrow. At this point, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, and you just want the task to be done with.

 

 

But what if we told you that study didn’t have to look like this?

While a very common study method employed by students, cramming is an ineffective, not to mention stressful, approach. According to the spacing effect, study is more effective (i.e. you retain more information) when the learning is spaced out over time, rather than done in immediate succession.

In other words, if you complete one hour of study on each night of a week, you are going to remember more and perform better in the long-term than if you did seven hours in one night.

The only way you can avoid this practice is to be proactive and get started early. If you leave assessment tasks to the last minute, it should come as no surprise that you won’t perform to the best of your ability.

We often ask our students whether they would feel more confident writing an essay if they knew their quotes from memory. To this question, almost every student says that they would.

This is because the human brain craves certainty. If you know the foundational facts, concepts and techniques needed for your exam or assessment task, you’re going to feel much more prepared and confident approaching it. 

There is no reason why you can’t know these facts, ideas and techniques as well as anyone else at your school. However, to be successful, you must be willing to do what others won’t.

Build the habit of consistency and avoid cramming by:

 

  • Reminding yourself of your goals every single day (we recommend building a Vision board)
  • Proactively planning around your upcoming assessment tasks. This means knowing when the tasks are and what you will be tested on. Subsequently, you should be brainstorming the tasks that you will need to complete in order to prepare yourself for the assessment.
  • Testing yourself daily on the foundational ideas, facts, quotes and techniques that you will need for the exam room. In particular, we recommend completing syllabus and content mindmaps from memory and our HSC CoWorks quote game.
  • Completing at least one task on the HSC CoWorks portal each day. Not only will these exam-style questions and challenges help you to get prepared for your assessments, completing a task a day will enable you to create and maintain a streak. For every week that a streak is maintained, you will earn extra marking credits or Challenge Feed attempts that you can use to get valuable personalised feedback on your work. 

If you want to meet your HSC goals, you need to put in the work, before it’s too late!

Our HSC Specialists are ready to take any questions you have about the HSC process or about how your child can take control of their HSC year and achieve the results which they deserve.

Get into contact with us via messaging our live chat or calling us on 1300 967 890

 

Check out our previous blog post on how to develop a growth mindset by clicking here.

 

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

Instagram

The Trials are now over for many students… so what happens next..!?!
For many Year 12 students, this is when the post-Trials slump kicks in.
After months of assessments, revision and exam pressure, the intensity suddenly drops. Graduation is around the corner, the HSC still feels a little way away, and motivation can disappear fast.
But Trials are not the finish line. They’re the dress rehearsal and they have just given you incredibly valuable information about where marks are being lost and where to focus your energy before the real HSC exams begin.
In our latest blog, we share our 5 tips for getting out of the post-Trials slump and finishing your HSC strong:
1️⃣ Take a short, intentional break - Recover and reset, but give your break an end date.
2️⃣ Turn your Trial results into a game plan - Use your results and feedback to identify exactly where you can improve.
3️⃣ Don’t wait to “feel motivated” - Reconnect with your goals and start taking small actions. Action creates momentum. Momentum creates motivation.
4️⃣ Move from studying to exam training - Past papers. Timed responses. Essays. Feedback. Corrections. Make your mistakes now, not in the HSC exam room.
5️⃣ Use the support around you - The HSC CoWorks Teachers, Coaches, HSC Markers and subject experts can provide the structure, accountability and feedback you need through the final stretch.
There is still plenty of opportunity between Trials and the HSC to improve.
Read the full blog via the link in our bio.
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsctrials #hscexams #hscmotivation
🎳 We’re bowling over the “Post Trials Slump” and bringing a little extra fun and motivation into your CoWorks Chatswood sessions🔥
This is the period where the intensity suddenly drops, motivation disappears and the thought of getting back into serious study (for HSC Final Exams) feels almost impossible. 
So for students who hit a 7+ day streak & complete all their session goals in this period, you will be eligible to score a FREE game at Strike Bowling! Because consistent action deserves to be celebrated 🌟 
#HSCCoWorks #StrikeBowling #HSC2026 #StudyMotivation #ConsistencyCounts
🚨 FINAL HSC 2026 STUDY BOOTCAMP 🚨
Make those final weeks count.
Join us for our final HSC Study Bootcamp and get the structure, support and expert coaching you need to turn your preparation into exam performance.
📅 WEEK 1
Mon 28 Sept – Fri 2 Oct
📅 WEEK 2
Tues 6 Oct – Fri 9 Oct
⏰ 10AM – 2PM DAILY
📍 Balgowlah
📍 Bondi Junction
📍 Chatswood
📍 Mosman
✓ Practise past papers & exam-style questions
✓ Get expert Coach support when you’re stuck
✓ Receive feedback and identify where marks are being lost
✓ Stay focused, accountable and productive
✓ Build confidence before walking into the HSC exam room
🔥 PLACES ARE LIMITED & SELLING FAST
Secure your Bootcamp place now #linkinbio
Students hitting the challenge board in Chatswood tonight 💪 
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscexamskills