The HSC is often described as a marathon, but for me, a students with ADHD, it felt more like an obstacle course. Expectations around sustained focus, time management, and organisation can clash with how ADHD brains naturally operate. However, with the right strategies and support, ADHD is not a disadvantage, it’s simply a different way of thinking.

One of the biggest challenges is maintaining attention over long study periods. Traditional advice like “just sit and study for three hours” is often unrealistic. Instead, breaking study into shorter, structured intervals, such as 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks, can significantly improve focus and retention. This aligns better with the ADHD brain’s need for novelty and urgency.

Another key difficulty is executive functioning: planning, prioritising, and starting tasks. Many students with ADHD know what they need to do but struggle to begin. In tutoring sessions, I’ve observed that external structure, such as checklists, visual planners, or even simply saying a task out loud, can make a huge difference. It transforms overwhelming tasks into manageable steps.

Importantly, ADHD also comes with strengths. Many students demonstrate high levels of creativity, strong verbal skills, and the ability to hyperfocus on subjects they enjoy. The goal of tutoring is not to “fix” ADHD, but to harness these strengths. For example, turning study into active methods, like teaching the content to someone else, using colour-coded notes, or incorporating movement, can make learning far more effective.

Finally, mindset matters. The pressure of the HSC can amplify feelings of frustration or self-doubt, particularly when students compare themselves to others. Reframing success as personal progress, rather than perfection, is essential. Small wins, completing a practice question, revising one topic, build momentum over time.

ADHD during the HSC isn’t about working harder, it’s about working differently. With the right strategies, students can not only manage the demands of the HSC, but thrive within them.

Cara Charalambous