Doing exams under time-pressure is always daunting, however turning it into a challenge usually can motivate students. Platforms like Kahoot or Quizlet and their interactivity make sure the students are actively learning but they are also motivated by the fun music and the confirmation of their questions being correct as they go.
This competitive element can transform revision from a stressful obligation into a game-like experience. By creating timed quizzes or “lightning rounds,” students practice managing pressure in a low-stakes environment, which builds both speed and confidence. Over time, these activities help students develop stronger recall, pattern recognition, and test-taking strategies without feeling overwhelmed. Incorporating leaderboards, small rewards, or collaborative team play can also encourage shy students to participate and reinforce a sense of achievement as they track their progress. Incorporating leaderboards, small rewards, or collaborative team play can further enhance the experience. Shy or hesitant students often become more willing to participate when the focus shifts from individual performance to group success or shared goals. This sense of progress and achievement, tracked through scores or badges, reinforces effort and creates positive associations with revision. In the long term, students who regularly engage in this kind of structured, interactive practice not only retain more information but also approach exams with a calmer mindset and stronger skills for managing time and stress—turning exam preparation into a tool for growth rather than an ordeal.

Mary Diamond

Having completed my HSC just last year and now tutoring Year 11 and 12 students, I’ve come to realise one of the biggest lessons many students overlook: the sheer importance of exam technique. Too often, students pour all their energy into learning content but forget that exams aren’t only about what you know—they’re about how effectively you can demonstrate that knowledge in the time given.

I truly believe that no matter how well-prepared a student is, they can’t perform at their absolute best without strong exam skills. Time management, question breakdown, and a clear strategy are just as important as understanding the syllabus. For example, a student may know every detail of a topic but struggle to finish the paper because they spent too long on one section. Similarly, not fully unpacking a question can lead to answers that miss the mark, costing easy marks.

That’s why in my tutoring, especially with senior students, I dedicate time to exam approach and practice. I encourage students to think about how they would begin an exam paper, what order they might tackle questions in, and how they can divide their time between sections. I also stress the importance of leaving a few minutes at the end to review their work. Everyone makes small mistakes under exam pressure—whether it’s a misread question or a forgotten word—and checking over can be the difference between a band 5 and a band 6.

At the end of the day, strong content knowledge and strong exam technique go hand-in-hand. By combining the two, students put themselves in the best position to showcase their ability and maximise their marks when it matters most.

Ellie McEachern

Choosing your senior subjects feels monumental, and when it comes to maths, the options can be daunting. If you have an aptitude for numbers and truly enjoy a challenge, choosing Mathematics Extension 1 is one of the smartest moves you can make for your future.

It’s about so much more than just tackling harder equations. Extension 1 Maths teaches you to think abstractly and apply rigorous logic to complex, multi-step problems. You’ll develop sophisticated problem-solving skills that are invaluable in any field, from science and engineering to finance and even law. This course effectively trains your brain to approach challenges systematically and creatively, a skill that universities and employers prize very highly.

Strategically, Extension 1 is a powerhouse for your future. It opens doors to a vast range of competitive university degrees, especially in STEM fields like medicine, engineering, and computer science. Furthermore, its strong scaling often provides a significant boost to your ATAR, reflecting the course’s difficulty and the high-level thinking it demands from students.

So, if you’re up for an intellectual challenge that sharpens your mind and dramatically expands your future opportunities, don’t shy away from Extension 1 Maths. It’s not just another subject; it’s a powerful investment in your intellectual toolkit

Nabil Harrar

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