We’re at the halfway point of the HSC journey and most students don’t realise it until someone puts it in front of them.
That’s exactly what happened on our latest Instagram LIVE, where Head Performance Coach Jesse sat down with virtual coaches Emily and Ben (both living their best lives studying at interstae universities) to talk honestly about what it takes to finish the HSC strong.
Here’s what came out of it.
The Trials Are Closer Than You Think
If you’re in Year 12, Jesse’s message was simple: start behaving like the Trials are two weeks away because in the grand scheme of things, they are.
Staying on top of what you’re learning right now isn’t enough. The trap most students fall into is thinking that because they’ve kept up with their homework and attended their sessions, they’re prepared. But when Trials arrive and the exam covers everything (Term 1, Term 2, last year) that’s when panic sets in.
The fix? Start weaving in revision of older content now, alongside what you’re currently learning. Don’t wait until the holidays before Trials to discover how much you’ve forgotten.
Balance Isn’t About Doing Less It’s About Being Smarter
Got an 18th on Saturday? Great. That’s not a reason to write off the whole day.
Ben’s advice: plan around the things you’re looking forward to, not against them. Wake up, get a few focused hours done, go for a surf, come home, do a bit more. Then show up to the party knowing you’ve earned it.
The alternative of an 8-hour “study day” with your phone on the bed and nowhere to be is almost always less productive than sharp, intentional hours with a clear goal.
Having things to look forward to makes you more focused, not less.
Attack Your Frogs First
At HSC CoWorks, we talk a lot about eating frogs i.e. doing the task you least want to do, first.
When it comes to prioritising your subjects, ask yourself one question: if I had to sit this exam tomorrow, which subject would I be least okay with? Start there. Give it more time. Don’t ignore your stronger subjects, but don’t use them as an excuse to avoid the hard ones either.
Frogs don’t get easier the longer you leave them. They just get bigger.
Year 11: The Race Has Already Started
For Year 11 students, the message is just as important. Did you know that 30% of the HSC Maths exam is Year 11 content? The habits you build now including how you study, how long you can focus, which techniques actually work for you, are the foundation everything else is built on.
You don’t want to be figuring out how to study effectively in the middle of Year 12. Work that out now, so that when October rolls around, you already know exactly what to do.
The climb up Mount HSC didn’t start on Day 1 of Year 12. It started a long time ago. The good news? Every bit of consistent effort you put in now is going to count and there are no shortcuts worth taking.
If you’ve got questions or want to talk it through, jump into an Ask a Coach session. Ben, Emily, and the rest of the team are ready when you are.
You can also watch the full recorded episode of our Instagram LIVE with Jesse, Emily and Ben below.
Sarah Gardiner
Business Manager HSC CoWorks
