Trials are over and for a lot of students it feels like the hardest part is done. It’s tempting to take a break, sleep in and convince yourself there’s heaps of time before the HSC. But this short window between trials and final exams is actually one of the most important parts of the whole year.

Lots of students start to lose motivation during this time. They’re tired and think they’ve already done the hard work. But here’s the truth. This is the best time to fix the gaps. You’ve already seen what you’re good at and where you struggled in the trials. Now is when you double down and sharpen the areas you weren’t confident in.

It’s not about doing ten hours a day and burning out. It’s about being consistent. Even one or two focused sessions each day can make a huge difference. This is when your brain starts locking in the information for the long term. If you stop now, you risk forgetting a lot of what you worked so hard to learn.

Tutoring during this time can also help you stay on track. It gives you structure, helps you target the right topics and keeps your head in the game when motivation dips. Every hour of effort now will pay off in your HSC results.

Finishing strong matters. When you walk into those exams knowing you gave it everything, the pressure lifts. You’re not guessing, you’re ready. So don’t switch off now. You’re nearly there. Make it count.

Eireyna Papinyan

Today I was able to observe Davids Year 12 Maths Standard session.

During the tutoring session, the student and David worked collaboratively through a range of past paper questions, using them as both a revision tool and a way to strengthen problem-solving skills. David guided the student in approaching each question step by step, first encouraging them to identify what the problem was asking and which concepts or formulas were most relevant. This method ensured that the student developed a structured process for tackling exam-style questions, rather than simply jumping to solutions.

As they progressed, David encouraged the student to explain their reasoning aloud, which allowed for immediate feedback and correction of any misconceptions. This interactive style of learning promoted a deeper understanding, as the student was not only practicing content knowledge but also developing exam technique and confidence. When the student encountered difficulties, David broke the problem down into smaller, more manageable parts, highlighting key strategies and patterns that could be applied across similar questions.

Overall a great session to observe

Alexader Nikitopoulos

When I first started tutoring online, I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt without a physical whiteboard. Over time, the Zoom Whiteboard has become one of the tools I use most often. It’s not flashy, but it makes lessons smoother and more collaborative. Here are a few ways I’ve found it useful:

Essay planning: I’ll set up a quick mind map or outline on the board. Students can add their own ideas, which makes it easier to see how their argument is taking shape.

Problem-solving: For maths, working step by step on the board helps me show the process clearly. Students can also try a line themselves without worrying about “getting it wrong.”

Active checking: Asking students to annotate or highlight key points shows me how they’re processing information, and I can correct misunderstandings on the spot.

Flexibility: Sometimes I just use it as scrap paper mid-lesson, sketching out an idea, a diagram, or even a timeline. It feels natural and keeps the session flowing.

For me, the whiteboard isn’t about replacing in-person teaching, it’s about making the most of what online tutoring offers.

Toby Bower

The Importance of Tutoring: Unlocking Every Student’s Potential

In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, education plays a central role in shaping a child’s future. But the reality is that many students face challenges along the way—whether it’s struggling to keep up with lessons, preparing for exams, or building confidence in their abilities. This is where tutoring steps in as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between potential and performance.

1. Personalised Learning

One of the greatest advantages of tutoring is the ability to tailor lessons to the student’s unique needs. Unlike crowded classrooms, tutoring provides one-on-one attention. This allows tutors to identify strengths and weaknesses, adapt teaching methods, and set a pace that ensures true understanding rather than rote memorisation.

2. Building Confidence and Motivation

Struggling with subjects can often lead to frustration and self-doubt. Tutoring helps students overcome these barriers by offering encouragement and achievable goals. As students see their progress, their confidence grows. This motivation often extends beyond academics, fostering resilience and a positive mindset in other areas of life.

3. Strengthening Foundational Skills

Tutoring isn’t only about catching up; it’s about building a strong foundation. Many students fall behind because of gaps in earlier learning. A tutor can revisit key concepts, ensuring the student is prepared not just for the next test, but for long-term academic success.

4. Developing Study and Life Skills

Effective tutoring goes beyond subject knowledge. Students learn how to manage time, organise their workload, and develop problem-solving skills. These are transferable skills that support lifelong learning and success in professional and personal settings.

5. Preparing for the Future

Whether it’s achieving top ATAR results, gaining entrance to selective schools, or simply feeling prepared for the next stage of study, tutoring provides that extra layer of support. Parents and students alike recognise that tutoring is an investment in future opportunities.

Jordan

Juggling tutoring work alongside university placement can feel like walking a tightrope. Both roles demand focus, preparation, and emotional energy, yet they also provide valuable opportunities to grow personally and professionally. With the right mindset and structure, it’s possible not only to manage both but to thrive in the process.

Tutoring offers flexibility, which makes it a great fit during placement periods. Tutoring also reinforces transferable skills like communication, patience, and adaptability — all of which are vital in a placement setting. Explaining concepts clearly to students can sharpen your own ability to break down complex tasks, something that benefits your professional growth.

The challenge of balancing both commitments lies in energy and time management. Placement weeks are often intensive with steep learning curves. Adding tutoring into the mix can push you toward burnout if boundaries aren’t set. A practical strategy is to block out a timetable in advance, prioritising rest as much as study and work. Even short recovery rituals — like a walk, a gym session, or a quiet meal — can make a significant difference.

Ultimately, tutoring while on placement teaches resilience. It forces you to refine your time management, build discipline, and learn to switch contexts quickly. Rather than viewing tutoring as an added burden, reframing it as a complementary role helps you see its value: you’re earning income, building skills, and shaping future learners while growing in your own professional journey.

Tamiah Mahoney

When I work with students on English essays, I often find that approaching the process as if it were a debate is one of the most effective ways to foster genuine understanding. Instead of beginning with rigid essay structures or formulaic topic sentences, I encourage students to speak through their ideas conversationally, almost like tossing a ball back and forth. In this dynamic exchange, I may present a claim—such as “Shakespeare represents love as both destructive and transcendent”—and the student is then invited to challenge, counter, or extend it. This back-and-forth dialogue naturally opens space for considering multiple perspectives, and it mirrors the critical thinking that underpins strong academic writing.

What makes this approach productive is the way it turns abstract arguments into living ideas. Students begin to see that each point requires not just assertion but also evidence, and together we work out what textual details or quotations might serve as proof. By rehearsing arguments in dialogue, they not only remember the key themes and techniques of a text but also internalise the logic of building and defending a claim. In this way, essay preparation becomes less about memorising a formula and more about developing intellectual agility—the ability to anticipate counterpoints, strengthen reasoning, and adapt arguments when challenged.

This method re-centres essay writing as what it should be: an exercise in constructing an adequate argument rather than filling a pre-set structure. The debate format encourages curiosity, fosters deeper retention of evidence, and gives students ownership over their ideas. By the time they return to the page, they are not constrained by formula but empowered to shape their writing around arguments they have already tested and defended in conversation.

Thea Macarthur-Lassen

When exams approach, many students default to reading notes over and over again or highlighting textbooks in neon colours. While these might feel productive, research shows that they’re far from the most effective revision techniques. To truly boost memory and understanding, students need to revise in a way that works with the brain — not against it.

One of the most powerful strategies is active recall. This involves trying to remember information without looking at your notes. For example, close your book and try to write out everything you remember about a topic, then check what you missed. This forces your brain to retrieve the information — the same skill you’ll need in an exam.

Another science-backed technique is spaced repetition. Instead of cramming everything the night before, space out your revision over days or weeks. Reviewing the same content multiple times with gaps in between strengthens the memory trace in your brain, making the information stick.

Interleaving is also useful. This means mixing up different types of questions or subjects in a single study session. It mirrors how problems are presented in real exams and trains the brain to switch between concepts — improving problem-solving flexibility.

Lastly, teaching others is a surprisingly effective method. Explaining a concept in your own words (to a friend, parent, or even your pet!) forces you to clarify your understanding and reveal any gaps in your knowledge.

The key takeaway? Effective revision isn’t about how long you study — it’s about how you study. Techniques like active recall, spaced repetition, interleaving, and self-explanation are all grounded in cognitive science. Build them into your routine, and you’ll revise smarter — not harder.

Julian Podgornik

Every student is told to study hard, but few are taught how to study effectively. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why it can help to treat studying like a science experiment. By testing different strategies, reflecting on the results and making small adjustments, students can discover the methods that truly help them learn.

The first step is to recognise that studying is not about the number of hours spent with books open, but about the quality of focus and retention. A student might begin by trying active recall, which means covering notes and testing themselves instead of rereading passively. Another strategy could be spaced repetition, where revision is spread out over days or weeks instead of being crammed into one session. Both techniques are backed by research, but each student should trial them to see which fits their learning style and schedule best.

It is also useful to experiment with the environment. Some students focus better in a quiet library, while others may find background noise helps them concentrate. Similarly, the time of day can make a difference. Morning study might work better for some, while others do their best thinking in the evening. By keeping track of when and where study feels most effective, students can refine their routine.

Reflection is essential. Scientists record their findings, and students should do the same. Keeping a short study journal can help identify what methods lead to better recall and stronger exam performance.

By treating study as a process of trial and error, students avoid the trap of copying others’ habits and instead find approaches that work for them. The result is not only improved grades, but also a sense of ownership and confidence in their learning.

Freddie Le Vay

As I reach the cusp of four years of tutoring alongside my university degree, I’m really struck by how seamlessly the act of teaching has weaved into my own journey of learning. What began as a casual job that helped to reinforce my knowledge I had picked up on in school and support others has grown into a lens through which I view everyday life: everything truly is a cycle of teaching and being taught, and attempting to learn something new every single day..
Tutoring has shown me that learning does not stop at the edges of a syllabus. A session with a student might just begin with a focus on Shakespeare or Pythagoras’ theorem but the underlying process of questioning, testing, revising, mirrors challenges well beyond the classroom. I’ve found myself applying the same strategies in internships, group projects, and even personal decision-making. The patience to sit with being uncertain and unsure, the attempts to unpack a problem and the empathy required to see from another’s perspective are as relevant in daily interactions as they are in education.
One of the most profound lessons I’ve drawn is that tutoring is never a one-way transfer of knowledge. Students often surprise me with interpretations, analogies, or questions I hadn’t considered. In that moment, I really am the one learning too. This reciprocity reinforces the idea that education is ongoing, collaborative, and fundamentally important to everyone.
After nearly four years, I can’t say I see tutoring as simply guiding students toward better grades. It has become about instilling a sense of curiosity and the ability to think on your feet; qualities that last well beyond the final exam. More importantly, it has reshaped how I view my own path. I am reminded constantly that growth doesn’t arrive in sudden leaps but through steady cycles of learning, sharing, and refining.
In that sense, tutoring is not just part of my university experience as a casual job for someone who did well at school. It has become a learning experience for me: to approach life as a perpetual classroom, where each interaction is an opportunity to both teach and to learn.

Teg Philmara

A PETAL paragraph is a structured way of writing that helps students build clear, well-developed responses in essays. The acronym stands for Point, Evidence, Technique, Analysis, Link. Each step provides a logical flow so ideas are communicated effectively.

The first step is the Point. This is your topic sentence and should directly answer the question or present the main idea of the paragraph. It must be concise and assertive, setting up what the rest of the paragraph will explore. For example, in an English essay, a point might be: “Shakespeare presents prejudice as a destructive force.”

The second step is Evidence. This is where you support your point with a direct quotation, example, or reference from the text or subject material. Evidence should be specific and relevant, not vague generalisations. Using a quote demonstrates close engagement with the text.

Next is Technique. Here, you identify the literary, rhetorical, or structural technique used in the evidence. This could be metaphor, imagery, repetition, or irony. Naming the technique shows you understand how the text is constructed, not just what it says.

The Analysis follows, where you explain how the technique supports your point. This is the most detailed part of the paragraph, as it unpacks the deeper meaning, explores the effect on the audience, and links back to the essay question. Strong analysis avoids retelling the plot and instead focuses on interpretation.

Finally, the Link connects your paragraph back to the overall essay question or thesis. It ensures cohesion, showing how the point contributes to the larger argument.

In summary, PETAL paragraphs provide a clear, formulaic structure that strengthens essay writing. By consistently making a point, backing it up with evidence, identifying techniques, analysing their impact, and linking to the thesis, students can write with clarity and persuasiveness.

Michael Fry