As opposed to maths and biology, which have very straightforward answers and thinking patterns, chemistry is often a very confusing and non-intuitive subjects. As opposed to Physics, Chemistry has a packed full and often ambiguous syllabus, so often is very difficult for tutors and even teachers to thoroughly cover the scope of the course. This leads to many students seeking tutoring in Chemistry. Chemistry students of mine have been excelling in maths but still struggling with Chemistry. This is because the steps that seem logical and intuitive in math subjects are not so straightforward and easy to see, especially with the design of the y12 syllabus.

Often students have very different ways of understanding ideas, and what one student of mine thinks is a great explanation of a topic could be very confusing to another. I believe chemistry really brings out the extremes of each persons learning styles. This is why it is so important to deeply understand each students approach to different types of problems, in order to not confuse students unnecessarily. Some students may prefer physical models, which could be shown by drawing or using props, in order to understand concepts. Other students may have great mental visualisation, which is very important for the understanding of chemistry, but struggle with the steps of the mathematical calculations needed to understand reaction processes.

Often, the results of laboratories or theory taught in the HSC Chemistry Curriculum is the opposite of what students may naturally lean towards, making it a truly difficult subject to teach, and essential to know your students very well.

Katie Waller

As a tutor working with students in the lead-up to the HSC, I’m constantly reminded that success in Advanced English isn’t just about memorising quotes or writing essays—it’s about preparation that builds confidence and adaptability. This year, I’ve noticed that students who start early with structured preparation strategies develop stronger analytical skills and approach the exam with far less stress.
One of the key pillars of effective preparation is familiarity with the prescribed texts. Advanced English students are expected to move beyond basic comprehension and engage deeply with themes, techniques and context. For example, when working on Shakespeare’s Othello or Twelfth Night, I encourage students to map out recurring motifs—like power, identity or deception—and link them to Elizabethan values and modern resonances. Creating visual mind maps, quote banks and thematic tables not only saves time during revision but also strengthens essay planning under pressure.
Another crucial element is practising exam-style responses. Many students can articulate brilliant ideas in discussion but struggle to translate them into coherent, time-bound essays. In sessions, we simulate short-answer and extended responses under timed conditions. Afterwards, we review each piece against the NESA marking criteria, focusing on thesis clarity, integration of evidence, and sophistication of expression. This iterative process demystifies the exam and helps students internalise what a Band 6 answer actually looks like.
Finally, I emphasise reflection and feedback as part of preparation. After each session, I ask students to note what felt strong and what felt challenging. This helps them track progress and turns weaknesses into specific goals. Over time, they build not just content knowledge but also self-awareness and resilience—skills that matter well beyond the HSC.
Preparation for Advanced English is ultimately about developing habits of critical thinking, effective expression and self-directed learning. With the right guidance and consistent effort, students can walk into the exam room not only prepared but genuinely confident in their ability to succeed.

Anthea Preketes

Parents often worry about the amount of time children spend on video games, but not all screen time is wasted time. Games like Minecraft, which are already hugely popular with primary school students, can actually be powerful tools for learning. When used with purpose, Minecraft provides opportunities to build creativity, problem-solving and even surprisingly strong maths skills.

One of the most obvious connections is geometry. As children build structures in Minecraft, they work with blocks that mimic three-dimensional shapes. Planning a house or tower requires them to think about length, height and width, as well as how shapes fit together in space. This is the same spatial reasoning tested in maths classrooms, but in Minecraft it feels like play.

The game also reinforces arithmetic and multiplication. When students calculate how many blocks they need for a wall or floor, they are practising area and volume without realising it. For example, deciding how many rows of blocks are needed for a roof introduces the concept of repeated addition, while larger builds require students to multiply or estimate totals to save time.

Beyond numbers, Minecraft builds logical thinking. Players must plan, sequence steps and solve problems when resources are limited. These habits of mind are exactly the kind of skills students need for problem-solving questions in maths and science.

Of course, balance is important. Minecraft should not replace classroom learning, but it can extend and support it. Parents can encourage children to link their builds with real-world maths by setting small challenges, such as designing a structure with specific dimensions or calculating the total blocks required for a project.

By turning a favourite game into a learning opportunity, families can help children see maths as something creative and practical, not just a subject in a workbook. Minecraft proves that learning can be both educational and fun.

Freddie Le Vay

Studying ancient history is more than just learning about dusty relics and long-dead kings, it’s about understanding the very foundations of our modern world. Why did societies develop the way they did? Where do our laws, languages, and philosophies come from? The answers are rooted in the ancient past. By exploring the triumphs and failures of civilizations like Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, we gain a crucial perspective on our own time.

These ancient cultures were pioneers, creating the first cities, inventing writing, and wrestling with timeless questions of governance and justice. Their stories offer powerful lessons, showing us models of innovation and warning us against the pitfalls of hubris and conflict. Understanding their context helps us make sense of today’s complex geopolitical landscapes and cultural interactions.

Furthermore, studying ancient history hones our critical thinking skills. It teaches us to piece together narratives from fragmented evidence like pottery shards, inscriptions, ruins and to question the biases of historical sources. This ability to analyse information and construct a reasoned argument is an invaluable skill. In essence, looking back at the ancient world allows us to see ourselves and our present more clearly.

Nabil Harrar

One of the most underrated study strategies is teaching someone else what you have just learned.
When you explain a concept to another person, or even an object!!, you’re forced to organise your thoughts clearly, use your own words and consequently identify any gaps in understanding. It’s one thing to agree to understanding the content but being able to explain why or how a topic works is another. If you are able to turn to another person and break it down so that they themselves understand, that’s when you can truly believe that you yourself understand.
Even I use this technique as a tutor with my students. After working through a problem together. I will turn to my student and ask them to teach it back to me. At first, they are sometimes confused but they start to understand how much it helps in consolidating knowledge as they need to dig deep into all topics of the content to explain. Often, if they stumble, I can clearly see what knowledge gap I need to address. I can then provide certain questions which will address this gap and hopefully build their confidence as their learning is reinforced.
This technique can be used even without a tutor or friend. You could look at yourself in the mirror and try to explain it to yourself. You could try explain it to a pet or even a stuffed animal. If you really want to see what level of understanding you are at, you can record yourself explaining and see where you stumbled and quickly address this gap in knowledge by going back through notes or the textbook.
This method is great for changing passive learning to active, really ensuring that students are understanding all aspects of the content.

Lily Powell

With HSC exams only a few weeks away, these holidays provide the perfect opportunity for final revision. Here are my best tips for HSC study so you can stay productive, organised and well-rested.

1. List all the study tasks you want to complete by the end of this 2 week break, rank them from highest priority to lowest priority, and use this to create a study timetable/calendar. By having each day’s work already organised in advance, you can feel confident knowing that if you stick to this plan, you’ll complete all your necessary study.

2. To avoid burnout, make sure you incorporate an effective study technique. This could be using the Pomodoro method where you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break, repeating this pattern until you’re ready to take a longer break. Or you could use a study app like Forest to set a study timer and grow your very own virtual tree! Whatever study technique you choose, make sure it’s one that you’ll stick to consistently so you can maintain motivation whilst also taking breaks.

3. Complete HSC past papers to feel confident on exam day! Also, trial papers are still helpful to complete to ensure you’ve attempted as many questions as possible.

4. Make sure to prioritise a good sleep schedule. Studying all day and pulling all-nighters will not be effective as you will be too exhausted to retain any information. Sleeping well will help you undertake high quality study and rest your mind!

5. Find a hobby to do in study breaks that you enjoy. Whether this is exercising, reading or watching your favourite TV show, it helps you relax and motivates you to study well and rest!

Wishing all Year 12 students the best of luck with their HSC exams!

Kristina McLean

In tutoring sessions, one of the most valuable learning tools is a student’s past mistakes. Instead of brushing over them quickly, I make it a point to go back and review where the error happened and why.

Many students see mistakes as something negative, but I try to show them that mistakes are actually opportunities. If we only focus on the questions they got right, we miss the chance to fix the misunderstandings that could come up again in exams.

When a student makes an error, I guide them through the problem step by step and ask questions like, “Where do you think it went wrong?” or “What could we try differently?” This way, they learn how to spot and correct their own mistakes instead of waiting for someone else to tell them.

I also keep a record of common errors. Over time, students start to notice patterns in their mistakes, whether it is misreading the question, forgetting units, or skipping a step in working out. Recognising these patterns helps them avoid repeating them.

Reviewing mistakes takes a little extra time, but it leads to long-term improvement. By turning errors into lessons, students become more resilient and confident in their maths skills.

James Valiozis

Tutoring can make a real difference in your HSC year, but only if you approach it with the right mindset. Just showing up isn’t enough to see results. The key is to treat each session as an opportunity to actively move forward in your learning, not just go over content passively with someone watching.

A great way to start is by coming prepared. Even spending 5 to 10 minutes before your session reviewing your schoolwork or pinpointing areas you’re struggling with can lead to a much more focused and productive lesson. Whether it’s a confusing concept from class, feedback from an assessment, or a question you couldn’t quite crack, bringing something specific helps guide the session and makes sure your tutor knows exactly where to help.

Honesty is just as important. If there’s something you don’t understand then say so. There’s no benefit in pretending to keep up. In fact, being upfront about your confusion is one of the smartest things you can do. Your tutor’s job is to help you make sense of difficult topics, but they can only do that if they know where you’re stuck. Asking questions isn’t a weakness, it’s actually one of the best ways to learn.

During your session, try to stay actively involved rather than just listening. Passive learning can feel comfortable, but it rarely leads to long-term improvement. Instead, use tutoring time to practice: write responses, solve problems, or answer questions under time pressure. Think of each session as a training session, not just a review. That’s how you build real skills and confidence.

Finally, consistency is everything. A tutor can guide, support, and motivate you but they can’t do the work for you. Real improvement happens in the time between sessions. Stick to the study goals you set, follow up on your weak areas, and take ownership of your learning. The more effort you put in outside of tutoring, the more progress you’ll see over time.

Final Thoughts

The HSC isn’t a quick sprint : it’s a marathon. A great tutor is like a coach, but the training and effort still have to come from you. Show up prepared, stay engaged, and commit to the process. That’s where the real growth happens and that’s how you’ll get the most out of every session.

Natasya Ross

Today I observed Tynan’s Year 10 Maths session.

Today, the session focused on solving quadratic equations and learning how to write quadratic equations in standard form. Tynan encouraged the student to take the lead by working through the problems independently, which helped build confidence and problem-solving skills. While the student was working, Tynan provided guidance where necessary, offering prompts and clarifying any misconceptions without giving away the full solution. This approach allowed the student to actively engage with the material and develop their own strategies for tackling quadratic problems. Once the student completed the questions, Tynan and his student reviewed the solutions together in detail. During this review, Tynan highlighted the key steps, reinforced important concepts, and corrected any errors, ensuring that the student fully understood the process. This balance of independent practice followed by guided feedback helped strengthen the student’s understanding of quadratics and supported their overall learning progress.

Overall a great session to observe.

Alexander Nikitopoulos

7 tips for you to keep in mind a month out from Paper 1

The countdown is on with just one month until the HSC exams begin. Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone. But the good news is : there’s still time to make a difference. These next few weeks are about working smarter, not harder. Here are 7 tips to help you stay focused, organised and confident.

1. Create a Realistic Study Plan
– break the remaining weeks into manageable blocks
– prioritise weak subjects/topics
– schedule breaks to avoid burn out

2. Focus on Past Papers !!!
– practice HSC-style questions under timed conditions
– Learn how to interpret NESA verbs such as “analyse”, “evaluate,” etc.
– Identify patterns in what gets asked

3. Revise Smart, Not Hard
– use active recall, e.g, flashcards, self – quizzing (you can do these with a friend to spice it up!)
– teach concepts to someone else (it’s one thing to know something and another to teach it)
– do more than just re-read notes!

4. Use the syllabus as a checklist
– go through each dot point and make sure u can explain it.
-link your study to what the exam will actually test

5. Look after yourself
– sleep matters more than late night cramming
– exercise helps with the stress and memory
– do not skip meals (your brain needs fuel)

6. Limit Distractions
– use apps or settings to block social media while studying
– create a clutter-free study space
– set small goals and reward yourself

7. Stay Motivated
– visualise your goals after the HSC
– use affirmations or motivational quotes
– remember : one month of focus = long term results

Final Thoughts
The next month is all about momentum. You don’t need to know every single thing about everything, you just need to keep showing up. Stay focused, stay calm, and remember : your effort will carry you through to the finish line.
You got this!

Natasya Ross