Jesse’s Weekly Message – June 30

Jun 30, 2023

As of today we have 31 days until Trial Exams begin and for our Year 11 students Yearly exams will begin in around 50-60 days.  Let’s break this down….

July 3rd – July 9th: Second week ‘holidays’ for some schools. First week for other schools.

July 10th – July 16th: Last week of ‘holidays’

July 17th – July 23rd: School back. Race to finish content

July 24th – July 30th: Final 7 days before exams begin

July 31st – Trials begin for most students with other schools the following week or week after that. 

Last week we broke down the number of hours a student will have in total if they complete 6 hours per day of effective study across 6 days a week which was 108 hours across the 3 week break from school. This will allow for 21 hours of exam preparation per 2 unit subject. If however this last week was not effective (either not studying or working on ineffective tasks such as ‘notes’) we are down to 14 hours per 2 unit subject for the remaining two weeks. I can’t stress enough the importance of getting moving now with the tasks that matter. 

In the 15 years of taking students to the top of Mount HSC the biggest and most common excuse for not getting moving with tasks that will actually prepare a student for the exam room at this stage of the HSC is…‘I need to finish my notes before I can do the exam training’. 

This is the definition of procrastination. The problem with this strategy is that the student who adopts this excuse will run out of time and the final two weeks will be filled with feelings of being overwhelmed with the amount of exam room readiness work that needs to be done. See more on this in my latest instagram post here or click the image.

What does exam training look like?

English quotes from memory, syllabus mind maps from memory, intro paragraphs to exam style essay questions, full essays, getting feedback on essays written, completing essay building templates (our system for writing essays), parts of practice exams, full practice exams. If notes need to be completed they need to be done in addition and concurrently to the above tasks.

Burpees Challenge Update

I am walking side by side students and doing something every single day that I don’t want to do between now and the Trial Exams (July 31) by doing over 20,000 burpees. 300 per day and 500 on Fridays. I’m not going to write practice essays, write out syllabus mind maps from memory, or do endless practice exam questions but I’ll do the burpees! As of today I’m up to 13,800 so 6,200 to go. You can follow my journey and get regular motivation on my instagram account @hsc_jesseg. 
For students looking for some extra motivation, a stronger mindset or anything else related to conquering their Mount HSC they can book a call with me via the student portal. I am available Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 8:30pm to 9:30pm for 20-30 minute zoom calls. 

  

Jesse GardinerHead Performance Coach

Follow me on Instagram for motivation and tips for getting students to finish their HSC with no regrets  @hsc_jesseg 

“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

Staying consistent with HSC study is one of the biggest challenges Year 12 students face. The good news? Building a routine that works is completely achievable when you have the right system in place. 
HSC CoWorks helps students develop accountability habits that carry them through assessments and exams with confidence.
These articles walk you through a practical, step-by-step approach to creating study consistency and organisation so that you can remain in control of your HSC year!
#hscstudytips #hscstudy #studytips #hsc2026 #hsccoworks
Motivation fades. Systems don’t. If you’re in Year 12 and the early year energy is wearing off, you’re not alone, and you’re not behind. You just need a better structure. We’ve put together a 7-step guide to building real HSC study consistency: from connecting to your WHY, to weekly check-ins, to getting fast feedback that actually helps you grow. The students who keep improving aren’t working harder. They’re working smarter, with the right habits backing them up. Read the full guide via the link in our bio. 
#HSC2026 #Year12 #StudyTips #HSCCoWorks #StudySmart
Success in the HSC isn’t just about studying harder , it’s about studying with purpose. 
Our HSC Performance Coach Jesse takes you through the Study Toolkit we send out to all new students to help them stay focused, organised and motivated throughout the year. 
Inside:
✨ Vision Board — keeping your goals front of mind 
🧠 Mind Map Pad — know your foundational content better than anyone else 
📋 Planning Pad — building organisation, structure and momentum 
Because high performance starts with the right systems. 🚀 Register for a FREE 14 day trial for your Study Toolkit
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscstudytips
Absolutely loved catching up with Coach Caitlin from HSC CoWorks Bondi Junction in our latest Podcast Episode! In this episode we chat about her Journalism degree paired with a Bachelor in Creative Intelligence at UTS! Caitlin gives us the inside scoop on the course, how she got there and where she wants to end up.
Caitlin has also worked with hundreds of HSC students over the past 2.5 years at HSC CoWorks and shares her top tips for HSC 2026 students. Ever wondered what it takes to thrive during the HSC? Wondering what the top students do differently? Caitlin talks about maintaining balance, keeping up your hobbies, and effectively using your precious study time working on the tasks that drive results in the exam room.
Full episode - link in bio.
#HSC #StudyTips #StudentLife #Motivation Education
Halfway through Year 12… and this is where things can start to feel real.
The early momentum and motivation from the start of Year 12 is waning, you have been through a few assessment cycles and there is a rush to finish the syllabus before next term.
At this stage of the year, feeling overwhelmed is normal! It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong, it means you’re in the middle of something demanding. The HSC year IS demanding,
You don’t need to have everything mastered right now. You just need to have a plan and keep moving forward strategically, consistently, and with purpose. 
Our top 3 tips…
🔹 Don’t ignore Term 1 content
🔹 Stay on top of new topics (without burning out)
🔹 Start building real exam readiness
5 months from now, school will be over. Keep your goals in sight and keep showing up.
Read the full blog for practical tips to stay on track through Term 3.
#hsccoworks #hscstudytips #hsc2026