With the 2025 HSC being right around the corner it is always daunting hearing from your teachers; “it’s subject selection time”, when your in year 10 and have no plans for the future. Here are some tips which I wish someone told me before starting year 12!

Firstly selecting subjects which you are passionate about. The subjects which you love the most and thrive the best in, are the ones which will boost your ATAR and bring you the outcome which you desire. Personally I loved Design and Technology during the junior years, and it allowed me to relax during HSC time and put my effort into my major work. Allowing me to break free from the stressors of textbooks and memorizing essay points.

Secondly don’t let the pressures of scaling get the best of you. Just because a subject scales well, doesn’t mean that it will boost your ATAR if you don’t perform well. Higher scaling subjects are much more demanding and require time, patience and energy to achieve successful results. As a student selecting subjects which may not interest you and are solely there for the scaling this may lead to you feeling burnt out, and not allow you to achieve the best possible marks which you are capable of.

Additionally, don’t select subjects which your friends are doing just so you are with someone. Your friends have different paths to you, what one person may like may not interest you or vice versa. For that reason select subjects which you enjoy, and if you find your friends there awesome, if not it is an awesome opportunity to branch out and make new friendships.

Finally, year 12 is a fun year, though it may be daunting. They are the memories which you will look back on and never forget. Education becomes a lot more challenging such as University and TAFE. For that reason, enjoying your time at school is important. Whilst prioritizing your grades it is also important to take care of yourself and make time for activities which you enjoy most.

Flora Carabitsios