First Education

Why Past Papers Are the Best Way to Prepare for Exams

If you’re not using past papers to study, you’re making life way harder for yourself. Going over your notes is great, but nothing prepares you for an exam better than actually practising the real thing. Whether you’re in Year 7 or Year 12, past papers help you get familiar with the types of questions you’ll face, the way they’re worded, and how much time you’ll need to answer them.

One of the biggest benefits of doing past papers is that they show you exactly what examiners are looking for. Instead of guessing what might be on the test, you can spot patterns in the kinds of questions that come up year after year. This is especially useful for subjects like maths, science, and business, where certain concepts are tested repeatedly.

Past papers also help with time management. A lot of students know the content but struggle to finish their exam on time. When you practise under timed conditions, you train yourself to work quickly and efficiently, so you don’t get stuck on one question and run out of time for the rest.

Another major perk is that you get to test yourself properly. It’s easy to feel like you understand something when you’re just reading notes, but actually answering a question under exam conditions is a whole different story. By marking your answers against the official solutions or examiner reports, you can see where you’re going wrong and fix your mistakes before the real exam.

At the end of the day, past papers are one of the easiest ways to boost your confidence and improve your results. If you’re not already using them, grab some past exams, set a timer, and start practising. It’ll make a huge difference!

Eireyna Papinyan

Shyla began by reviewing a topic that the student had learned earlier in the day (Cartesian Plane), carefully guiding her through her homework to ensure she fully understood the content before moving forward. Shyla encouraged independent thinking by allowing the student to attempt each question on her own first. If the student struggled, she provided subtle hints and guiding clues rather than simply giving away the answer. This approach was highly effective, as it not only built the student’s confidence but also strengthened her problem-solving skills so she was able to tackle a similar problem independently in the future.

Once the student had fully understood the current content, she pivoted towards NAPLAN prep and began going through a practice exam with her. She introduced relevant practice questions, reinforcing key concepts while adapting her explanations to fit the student’s level of understanding. She guided the student through problem-solving strategies for particularly harder questions, helping the student build confidence in tackling more complex problems.

Additionally, I appreciated Shyla’s ability to make sure the student stayed on track as she was particularly chatty considering she had just started a new school and had lots of stories she wanted to share ! Whenever the student began to go off-track, Shyla redirected her attention back to the task, remaining firm yet patient and understanding. She made the student finish her work first before making her choose one story to tell, which gave the student incentive to finish the work and made sure she wasn’t distracted.

Overall, it was a great session ! Good job !

Annaliese Lakis

Observing James as he works with his Year 7 student in the Maths session was an insightful experience in the art of effective teaching. James had a clear, structured approach to teaching, blending methodical explanations with student interaction to ensure that is engagement and comprehension of the material.

Throughout the lesson, James is highly interactive, continuously checking for understanding and asking the student to explain their thought process. This practice helps the student solidify their understanding and encourages them to think critically about how they approach problems. James doesn’t just focus on getting the right answer; he emphasises the reasoning behind the solution, which strengthens the student’s problem-solving skills and deepens their grasp of mathematical concepts.

Another strength of his teaching style is his patience. He doesn’t rush the student through challenges; instead, he allows time for exploration and encourages mistakes as part of the learning process. When the student struggles with a concept, James offers gentle guidance, often rephrasing or offering different examples until the student feels more confident in their understanding. This supportive, low-pressure environment fosters a growth mindset, where the student feels safe to take risks and ask questions without fear of judgment.

By the end of the session, it’s clear that James’s approach isn’t just about teaching math; it’s about fostering a love for learning. The student walks away not only with a deeper understanding of the material but also with a renewed sense of confidence and motivation to tackle future challenges.

Tira Rustom

I wanted to talk about how AI, and ChatGPT can greatly enhance tutoring by automating the creation of worksheets, questions, and study plans tailored to each student’s needs. For example, by typing in a few easy prompts of exactly what you need, ChatGPT can generate customised worksheets that target those areas for improvement, create a range of questions, easy to hard. This can save us so much time and provide a steady stream of relevant practice materials without too much outside /extra time and manual preparation. I found this particularly useful with a year 1 English comprehension student I had last year. I would ask ChatGPT to create a short paragraph using his key spelling words, and this made it really easy to create targeted reading practice that reinforced his vocabulary/school spelling lists while keeping him engaged. It streamlined my lesson preparation, allowing me to focus more on guiding his understanding of the content rather than wasting time crafting my own paragraph from scratch. This approach supported creating a customised lesson that was both effective and enjoyable for him.
AI can generate questions at various difficulty levels, to adapt to a student’s progress. It also can assist with providing tutors with a roadmap for each session, to ensure we get through all the content in the term, and ensures all time is used effectively. Instead of wasting anytime planning the next few weeks out / searching for resources, a few minutes typing prompts into AI, and it is done. This means we can spend more quality time working through questions together, teaching content and preparing for exams.
By automating these resources, AI allows tutors to focus on interactive teaching and addressing complex concepts rather than preparing repetitive tasks. AI-generated materials also help maintain consistency in learning, providing an accessible and flexible framework that complements the tutor’s guidance and support.

Shyla Gloster

Flashcards are one of the best study tools out there, no matter if you’re in kindergarten or Year 12. They’re simple, effective, and make learning feel way less overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting to recognise letters or cramming for your final exams, flashcards help break information into bite-sized pieces, making it easier to remember.

For younger kids, flashcards are great for learning basics like letters, numbers, colours, and shapes. The quick, visual format keeps things fun and engaging, and you can turn studying into a game. Parents and teachers can mix things up by asking kids to match flashcards, say the answer out loud, or even act them out. This keeps learning interactive and helps with memory retention.

As you move into primary and high school, flashcards become a lifesaver for subjects like maths, science, and English. Need to memorise your times tables? Flashcards. Struggling with spelling? Flashcards. Trying to remember key science terms? Yep, flashcards again. Writing the question on one side and the answer on the other forces your brain to recall information, which is one of the best ways to strengthen your memory.

For Year 11 and 12 students, flashcards are perfect for studying complex concepts, definitions, and formulas. Apps like Quizlet or Anki make it even easier by letting you create digital flashcards that you can review anytime. Some apps even use spaced repetition, which means they show you harder cards more often until you fully remember them.

No matter your age, flashcards help with active recall making studying way more effective than just reading notes. Plus, they’re super portable, so you can study anywhere—on the bus, between classes, or even while waiting in line. If you’re not already using them, it’s time to start!

Eireyna Papinyan

English tuition holds profound importance in shaping individuals not only as proficient communicators but as intellectual explorers. It serves as a gateway to understanding the intricate layers of language, literature, and culture that define human civilization. English offers unparalleled access to some of the most significant texts in history, ranging from the philosophical works of Plato to the literary brilliance of Shakespeare, and beyond. Through the study of these works, we not only engage with the thoughts of great minds but also acquire the tools to navigate our own intellectual landscapes.

The ability to engage with famous books in their original language allows us to delve deeper into their meaning and purpose. English tuition is essential because it equips us with the necessary language skills to appreciate the nuances of literature, poetry, and prose. Every great writer has a unique craft, a distinct style that reflects their personality, era, and worldview. By understanding these literary forms, we develop a refined appreciation for how each piece of writing is an artistic creation, meant to provoke thought, stir emotion, and present complex ideas.

English tuition does more than just teach the mechanics of the language; it empowers individuals to explore the diversity of voices and perspectives that have shaped our cultural heritage. Each book or poem is not only a product of its time but a reflection of the human condition, offering insights into the universal struggles, triumphs, and ambiguities of life. As we study literature, we come to understand how writers seek to answer fundamental questions: What is the purpose of life? How do we grapple with morality, freedom, and identity? Through these questions, we start to ask our own, reflecting on our personal values and beliefs.

By answering the question “Why do we write?” we realize that writing is not only an act of communication but of self-discovery. It is a tool for connecting with others, for contributing to ongoing dialogues, and for shaping our place in the world. Through English tuition, we hone these skills, preparing ourselves to become not only better readers and writers but more thoughtful, reflective individuals.

Jana Panagopoulos

Tutoring and strong study habits go hand-in-hand when it comes to achieving academic success. First, tutoring provides individualized support tailored to a student’s specific needs. Whether you’re struggling with a particular subject or aiming to improve your overall performance, a tutor can pinpoint areas where you need help and focus on those gaps. This personalized approach allows for a deeper understanding of complex concepts, something that’s difficult to achieve in a classroom setting with many students. Tutors can adjust their teaching methods to match your learning style, whether that’s through visual aids, hands-on practice, or detailed explanations. Beyond just understanding content, tutors also provide consistent motivation and help build a student’s confidence. A tutor can help students approach challenges with a positive mindset, turning frustration into perseverance. However, tutoring alone isn’t enough to guarantee success—it needs to be paired with effective study habits. Building strong study routines, such as setting a consistent study schedule, organizing materials, and breaking tasks into manageable chunks, maximizes the benefits of tutoring. When students follow a structured routine, they are more likely to retain information and tackle assignments with efficiency. Active learning strategies—like summarizing information in your own words, creating flashcards, or testing yourself—can significantly improve comprehension and help retain material long-term. Additionally, cultivating discipline and self-motivation through good study habits helps you stay on track, even when there’s no tutor present. These habits are crucial for maintaining consistency and progress in academic pursuits. Together, tutoring and study habits form a powerful support system, enabling students to not only master academic content but also develop valuable life skills such as time management, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Ultimately, investing in both personalized tutoring and disciplined study routines creates a strong foundation for academic success, paving the way for lifelong learning and achievement beyond the classroom.

Evanna

Today I was able to observe Nabil tutor his Year 12 student in Maths Advanced. Nabil appeared to be going through curve sketching and differentiation, doing past paper questions alongside his student. I commend Nabil for his effective ability to break-down simple and complex questions, which he did in a way that allowed his student to extract maximum understanding.

A highly essential element of being an effective tutor is communication. Nabil is a very effective communicator, whereby he consistently asked his student an array of questions in order to prompt thought, as opposed to solely providing the answer to a specific question. Nabil would ask questions related to certain content, past exam questions, and even formulas on the HSC formula sheet. In this way he was able to solidify his student’s understanding of differentiation and curve sketching, as a result of initiating active recall.

I also found it very useful as to how well-versed he was with what he was teaching. It is vital that tutors constantly update themselves with the subjects in which they teach and strive to remain as familiar as possible with specific concepts/topics. By having a strong understanding into curve sketching and calculus Nabil was able to quickly amend his student’s mistakes and had the capacity to recognise errors with ease. In alignment with his extensive knowledge, Nabil appears to be a very organised and structured tutor, ensuring that no time was wasted and that the lesson was tailored towards the specific mathematical needs of his student.

Finally, I liked how Nabil worked very closely with his student, reading along and watching as he attempted questions. In this way, Nabil did not need to make use of the whiteboard as he would correct his student on the exam paper itself. By doing this Nabil was able to get through an array of different questions, as a result of increased efficiency due to working directly beside his student. By overseeing his student’s work he was able to create a more serious atmosphere, and through this sense of urgency maintained a professional setting.

James Petrakis

Watching James P’s tutoring session for Year 12 Biology was a really cool insight into how great tutoring can make a difference. Right from the start, it was evident that James knew his content and was super confident in what he was teaching. He also made sure the student actually understood how to study smart, not just memorise facts.
One thing that stood out about James was how much he stressed using the syllabus. He kept referring back to it, showing the student how it’s basically a roadmap for what they need to know for exams. He also went through their study notes and gave solid advice on how to make them better. His tips were really practical and showed that he genuinely cared about helping the student improve.
Right at the beginning, James asked, “What type of learner are you?”—which I thought was a really great way to start. It was also a question I’ve never heard a tutor ask their student, which I thought was unique. It helped James figure out the best way to help his student and explain things in a way that actually clicked.
He kicked things off with a refresher on mitosis and meiosis, going through the different phases like prophase and anaphase. His explanations were super clear, and he used acronyms and memory tricks to help make the info stick. Since the student had just come back from the Christmas break, James made sure to test their recall, helping jog their memory in a low-pressure way. He also didn’t rush—he made sure the student fully understood each concept before moving on.
On top of covering the content, James gave awesome tips on how to use this knowledge in HSC exam answers. He showed the student how to structure responses properly, making sure they hit all the key points in a way that would score well. His advice really helped connect the dots between learning the material and actually applying it in an exam setting.
Overall, James’ tutoring session was well-structured, engaging, and super helpful. He was great at explaining things, gave useful study advice, and really made sure the student felt confident in their learning. It’s clear that with his help, the student is on the right path to crushing their HSC Biology exam!

Demi Roussakis