Preparing for Exams

With the HSC exams beginning tomorrow morning, it is as relevant a time as ever to discuss how to prepare for exams, what are good practices for during exam blocks and how can tutoring help students navigate these stressful times. These comments of course are not limited to the HSC but apply to studying for any upcoming exams.

To start with here are some practical tips for exam season.
1. Make a good timetable. Work out how much time you need for each subject and what topics you need to work on, then timetable accordingly. It is often useful to not only know what you will study each day, but also the specific work you will do, like whether you are doing a practice paper or revising notes at a particular time.
2. Do lots of past papers. This is the best possible practice for the real thing, time yourself and mark your answers.
3. Revise Actively. Explaining things to a friend and working from flashcards are typically better than just rereading notes.
4. Look after yourself. Get good sleep, eat properly and take scheduled study breaks. Besides being healthy practices, these will help your memory and concentration.

Coming up to exams a tutor can do a lot more than just teach students the content. Tutors can help students develop a good timetable and study schedule which goes a long way to success. They can identify which areas a student is struggling in and shore up gaps that would otherwise cost marks. Perhaps most importantly though, tutors can offer a calm and comforting voice during probably the most high octane period of high school. After all most of us went through the same thing a few years ago.

Good luck to all of our HSC students, we know you are all going to crush it!