Our Blog
Why the Syllabus Is the Most Powerful (and Underused) Study Tool
Most students begin the HSC year by diving straight into content i.e attending class, writing notes, highlighting textbooks, making flashcards. However, many students miss integrating this very important, but uncommon habit: Studying the syllabus before they study the content. This one shift will transform your entire HSC journey from reactive to proactive. And as we always remind our CoWorks students: No one would climb a mountain without a map. Mount HSC is no different. Why the Syllabus Is...
year 11 begins: how to help your teen navigate the big leap from year 10
As your child moves from Year 10 to Year 11, they are entering a pivotal stage in their academic journey. Year 11 is not just another school year—it marks the beginning of their Preliminary HSC coursework and sets the foundation for Year 12. The shift comes with new...
From Unmotivated to Empowered: How to Support Your Teen in Finding Purpose and Balance at School
As a parent, it can be frustrating to watch your teen struggle with motivation and organisation. While it’s natural to want to step in, empowering them to take ownership of their learning is key. These skills are not always focused on at school and many students get...
The Journey to HSC Success Starts Early
The senior years of high school, especially Year 11 and 12, can be a challenging and transformative time for students. However, building a strong foundation in Year 9 and 10 can significantly ease the transition and set students up for academic success and personal...
Let’s talk about the HSC Podcast: Modern History
The importance of Modern History ... and why students struggle with essay writing. In this episode, HSC CoWorks Founder and HSC Modern History Teacher, Fergus Gardiner discusses the importance of Modern History and the challenges students face in essay writing. Fergus...
Let’s talk about the HSC podcast: Episode 4
Preparing for the HSC English Trials In this episode, Jesse interviews teacher Donna about her top tips for students preparing for their trials. Donna emphasises the importance of getting mentally prepared and having a sense of certainty before the exams. She advises...
The burpee challenge
In May this year I started doing a daily exercise activity that every person screws up there face at the thought of. The dreaded burpee! Initially I set out to do 100 a day, then it was 150 a day and then 200 a day. The more burpees I did the prouder I became of this...
Jesse’s Weekly Message – June 30
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:...
Jesse’s Weekly Message – 16 June
Good morning everyone!  Another Friday rolls around and it's now only 45 days until the Trial Exams start for most students. For other students it's either 52 days or 59 days.  Last night we ran the first 'Conquer your Trial Exams' workshop in Bondi Junction and I...
Jesse’s Weekly Message – 9 June
Good morning everyone, I hope you have all had a great week. The Trial Exams are now only 52 days away for most students (59 days for others). The Trial Exams are the biggest internal assessment task and a significant challenge for even the most studious student given...
10 Tips for HSC Exam Preparation
The HSC exams are the most important tests a NSW student will take during their schooling career, and proper preparation is crucial for success. Here are ten tips to help you prepare effectively for your HSC exams: Start early It goes without saying that you shouldn't...
Effective Note Taking Strategies for HSC students
Effective note-taking is an essential skill for successful HSC students. Whether in the classroom or at home, developing a system for taking and organising notes is crucial to exam preparation. Here are some tips for writing effective notes that will support you in...
Jesse’s Weekly Message – 2 June 2023
The mission of HSC CoWorks is to support students finish their HSC with no regrets. In order for a student to have no regrets, they are going to need to consistently do the tasks that they don't want to do so they can continually expand their capabilities and develop...
Jesse’s weekly hsc message 19 May
There are lots of assessment tasks happening at the moment as the schools race to get through the content before the end of this school term for Year 12 students. In my 15 years of guiding students to the top of Mount HSC I have always found this stage of the journey...
Jesse’s weekly message, 12 may 2023
With the Trial Exams only 81 days away (for 90% of our students) it's very important that Year 12 students are making progress with their Trials preparation now to ensure they don't get overwhelmed with the volume of content that will be examined in the Trials. It's...
Doing HSC study notes are a form of glorified procrastination.
If you're going to spend hours and hours doing notes you will need to get something out of doing the notes! Watch my video for tips on how you can turn the study task of 'making notes' into an effective and efficient task which gets you closer to achieving your HSC...
Jesse’s weekly message May 5 2023
This week in sessions we have touched base with every student around their WHY. As in, why are they doing the HSC, because no one is doing it for fun. I personally have a 'vision check in' with students to help them understand that the HSC is so much more than just...
Increase Focus, Minimise Distractions
If you're a teenager, getting the focus and motivation to study for the HSC can be tough. With so many distractions in your life, like Tik Tok, phones, gaming – it's not easy staying focused. So how do you stay on top of your HSC studies? Here are some tips to help:...
The Only Certainty Is Risk
To really get results we need to do something different than what we're used to doing. This holds true especially when it comes to preparing for exams. Learning how to get out of our own comfort zone can reap huge rewards! Many students practice the same method of...
Smart? Or Something Else?
Being gifted is a subject of debate. Some believe that some people are born with certain abilities and talents, while others believe it's all about the effort one puts in to perfecting those skills. There is no definitive answer as to whether being gifted exists or...
HOW IMPORTANt IS GOAL SETTING DURING YOUR HSC YEAR?
Having a strong vision is one of the most important steps you can take to reach success in life. It helps provide clarity around where you want to go and how you plan to get there, whether it is a HSC goal, your dream uni degree, the career you want to have or...
