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!

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At HSC CoWorks, we emphasise the power of mindmaps for a student’s daily syllabus training. Mindmaps help students break down complex topics, see connections, and retain information more effectively. They’re an essential tool for organised study, making sure no part of the syllabus is overlooked, and empowering students to approach their HSC with confidence and clarity. 
How would you feel if you knew the syllabus as well as the top HSC students? 
How confident would you feel to attempt practice questions and essays if you knew the syllabus for the topic inside and out?
How ready would you be for an exam if you were taking a roadmap of the syllabus into the exam room with you.. inside of your brain?
Mindmaps take 5-10mins and should be a daily practice for any HSC student. #hsc2025 #hsccoworks #hscstudytips
YOUR DAILY REMINDER 🏔️💥 Ready… set… GO!