Top Tips From A Gold Medalist

Aug 10, 2014

 

Sally Pearson recently won the 100 m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.  How she focused on winning that race and achieving her goal can be applied to our HSC students.

Here are 3 winning tips that Sally shared post race that can easily be applied to all our students.

1. “I don’t want to win I HAVE to win.”  

How could changing the way you look at your HSC Goal into something you HAVE to achieve rather than something you WANT to achieve impact on your own HSC result?

  • I need to get 90+ ATAR
  • I need to get into that Arts degree course
  • I need to get into UNSW

2. At the start of each race she looks down the track and finds some green and gold to focus on. This reminds her of why she is there. Knowing that she is an inspiration to others who look up to her and representing her country is what motivates her?

  • What is your motivation/vision?
  • How can you find your own ‘green and gold’ to focus on at the start of an exam, trials, study?

3. Sally had a difficult run up to this important race.  She was trying to retain this title from the last commonwealth games, she had injuries leading up to the race and there was a lot of behind the scenes drama that were distracting.  She said she just had to get the job done and that she had ran that race a million times.

Fergus often says you can have excuses or you can have results but you can’t have both.

So as an HSC student practicing exam style questions under timed conditions over and over again is as Sally puts it ‘going to get the job done’ in the HSC.

Thank you Sally Pearson for being so inspiring.

 

“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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“Without exaggeration, it was the time of my life.”
From studying in Sweden 🇸🇪 to visiting 21 countries and 42 cities, Angus’s university exchange experience is exactly why we encourage students to think beyond just their HSC marks.
Yes, the HSC matters.
But what it unlocks matters even more.
“If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to….. “… (read the blog post to find out more!)
Big thanks to Angus for sharing his experience 🙌
Post in bio or reply SEND and we’ll PM the link to you. 🔗 
#hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscmotivation #universityexchange #hsccoworks
What a week 🔥 
That’s a wrap on the April Study Bootcamp! 
Focused. Productive. Energising.
Our Bootcamp students showed up every day ready to train and push themselves .. and it showed.
Real progress isn’t built in a single session. It’s built through consistency, accountability, and being surrounded by the right people.
Proud of every student who committed to the process this week. This is how momentum is created. 🚀
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hscbootcamp
We asked our coaches for their #1 tip to Year 12 students going into Term 2 (term 3 of your HSC year). Here’s what they said 👇
Zara (English): Stop memorising essays.
Alex (Maths): Do past papers with no notes first.
Jack (Economics): Teach a topic. Stumbling = your next study target.
Ella (All Rounder): Know your syllabus inside out.
Which tip will you implement first?
#HSCCoWorks #Term2 #StudyTips #HSCCoaching Year12
Your HSC mountain won’t climb itself 🏔️ 
Daily plan ✅ 
Daily mindmap ✅ 
Daily submission ✅ 
Ask a Coach ✅
Tick them all off and keep that streak alive. 625 days is the record. What’s yours? 🔥
3 mistakes most HSC students make in Term 2…
And yes, you’re probably doing at least one of them.
1. Spending most of your time on subjects you’re already good at. Feels great. Does nothing for improving your end results. Your weakest subject has the most room to move and that’s where the immediate gains are.
2. Saving past papers for the week before trials. Past papers aren’t revision. They’re practice that identify strengths and weaknesses. Do them early enough that you can actually act on what they tell you.
3. Studying more hours but without intention. Re-reading notes. Highlighting. Rewriting summaries for the 4th time. Your brain is comfortable but it is not pushing you into the next level. Active recall and practice questions are uncomfortable for a reason. Get them done every day, not just in the lead up to the assessment. 
Term 2 is where the biggest progress can be made. Small adjustments now = big results in October.
#hsccoworks #hscstudytips #hscmotivation #hsc2026