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Want to make your holidays count? Here's how to get ahead, ace tricky topics, and start next term with confidence.
Join 75,893 students who already have a head start.
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Join 8000+ students each term who already have a head start on their school academic journey.
Then, hear how Caitlyn achieved an ATAR of 99.65 by making the most of her holidays.
One of the biggest advantages of holiday tutoring programs is staying ahead of the curriculum. Instead of waiting for the school term to begin, students who enrol in holiday courses can learn key concepts in advance, making it easier to understand and apply these new topics during the school term.
In Matrix Holiday Courses, students complete an entire term’s content in just 5 days (for Year 11) or 9 days (for Year 12), staying one term ahead of school. You’ll build a strong foundation before the term even starts, thanks to structured lessons, expert guidance, and comprehensive resources. The combination of in-depth theory lessons, targeted practice, and one-on-one teacher support helps you consolidate your understanding quickly and effectively.
I spent the summer holidays learning the content in Matrix Holiday Courses so that when I got back to school I was ready to start revising… My knowledge was being consolidated in class, giving me an advantage over my peers. – Josh Bewley (ATAR: 99.60)
2023 Matrix Education scholarship student Afrina speaks about Holiday Tutoring Programs
Repetition and practice are key to mastering any subject. Holiday tutoring programs give you an ideal environment to refine your exam techniques and boost performance. Many students understand the content, but struggle with exams because they lack the skills to apply their knowledge effectively under exam conditions.
Holiday tutoring programs are often designed to give you an edge in exam preparation by refining your exam techniques and giving you plenty of practice time. Through exam-style practice (practice papers, mock exams, and targeted exercises), you develop confidence in handling different question types while refining your time management skills. Without the distraction of regular schoolwork, you can fully concentrate on improving your skills and boosting your performance.
The holidays were when I did the bulk of my Matrix Chemistry course … all you have to do is refresh those concepts and then start on past papers. – Emma Bu (ATAR 99.95)
Read how Emma achieved a 99.95 ATAR through hard work and balance, here.
School terms can be overwhelming with multiple subjects, assignments, and exams piling up. Holiday courses help you stay in control by covering content in advance, so you don’t have to cram when assessments roll around. Instead, you’ll have more time to revise, refine your understanding, and focus on exam preparation.
Holiday courses also give you the freedom to master tricky topics at your own pace. In school, lessons move quickly, and if you don’t grasp something right away, it’s easy to fall behind. With structured lessons and expert guidance during the holidays, you can break down difficult concepts, ask questions, and build confidence before the term even begins.
Every minute you spend working during the holidays is a minute you can spend resting and revising during the school term, when you’ll REALLY need it. – Caitlyn Tan (ATAR 99.65)
Do you ever come back from the holidays feeling like you’ve forgotten everything? Trying to learn new content while also revising old topics can feel overwhelming. If you don’t revise during the break, you’ll need to work twice as hard when school starts again—especially in Year 11 and 12.
The tricky thing is, studying over the break can lack accountability and structure, and this is precisely the reason why I enrolled in my first Matrix holiday course. – Jack Murray (ATAR 99.95)
Holiday courses keep you engaged and prevent the “holiday slump,” where long breaks cause you to lose progress. Instead of struggling to catch up when the term begins, you’ll stay on top of your learning and transition smoothly into new topics.
By setting aside structured study time during the break, you’ll reinforce what you’ve already learnt and build strong study habits that last all year.
Juggling multiple subjects at once can be one of the biggest challenges in high school, especially when some require more time and effort than others. Holiday tutoring programs help you cover content in advance so you can focus on other academic priorities during the term.
Many high-achieving students use the holiday + term course strategy to balance their workload.
For example, a student might complete Physics and Chemistry in Matrix Holiday Courses, so they can spend more time on Maths and English during the school term. This method helps students avoid burnout while maximising results across all subjects.
When I finally assigned my most content heavy subjects (Phys and Chem) to Matrix’s Holiday program, school just became revision. While my peers struggled to get their heads around tough concepts, I already knew them back to front.
– Ved Khanolkar (ATAR: 99.50)
Another example is if you have major works that are due in subjects like Visual Arts, Design and Technology, or Drama, completing other subjects ahead of time gives you more room to focus on these projects.
…Holiday courses are really useful for content-heavy subjects which require understanding, like Chemistry or Physics. The main benefit is that you can rush ahead with the course, and work out any explanations beforehand. – Alan Wong (ATAR 99.95)
By tackling key subjects in the holidays, you’ll have more time during the term for revision, assignments, and exam preparation—without the stress of keeping up with new content.
Balancing academics with sports, music, leadership roles, or volunteering can be challenging. Holiday tutoring programs help you stay ahead in school, giving you the freedom to enjoy extracurriculars without falling behind.
Here’s how holiday tutoring helps:
If you’re involved in competitive sports, debating, drama, or music, it can be hard to juggle training and schoolwork. By covering key content in the holidays, you’ll have more time for rehearsals, competitions, and performances—without sacrificing your grades.
Some universities look for students who do more than just study. If you’re applying for early entry programs, scholarships, or specialised courses, a strong extracurricular portfolio can boost your chances. Holiday courses help you stay on top of academics while keeping time for leadership, teamwork, and volunteering.
Overloading schoolwork alongside extracurriculars can lead to stress and burnout. Without a plan, you may end up cramming at the last minute. Enrolling in holiday courses helps spread out your workload, making the school term more manageable and reducing stress.
The last bell rings for school. While most students rush out for a well-earned break, Caitlyn Tan knows the importance of balancing rest with productivity during the holidays. Instead of leaving all her studying for the term, she used the holidays strategically to get ahead, reduce stress, and optimise her HSC performance. Here’s how she did it:
At the start of each holiday, Caitlyn listed her priorities and focused on her most challenging subjects first. This helped her stay organised and manage school assignments more effectively.
“Holidays are a great time to prioritise external admissions tests, like the UCAT, SAT, or LAT. So if you’re looking to pursue an alternative education pathway, sometimes putting these first is appropriate.”
Instead of cramming last-minute, Caitlyn set a structured daily study plan. She studied one or two subjects per day, usually in 1-hour focused blocks. This helped her avoid burnout while ensuring she stayed on top of all her subjects.
“On days I wasn’t attending a Matrix holiday course, I usually aimed for three subjects per day. It was satisfying to finish them all, and it only took about three hours.”
A step-by-step planner to maximise you time for study and play!
For Caitlyn, holiday courses were the ultimate game-changer. She completed Matrix Chemistry and Physics holiday courses, learning an entire module in just a few days. This made school much easier.
“Since I had already learned the core content over the holidays, during the school term, I could solely focus on revision. Study became less about having to learn new concepts and more about refining my exam technique.”
Caitlyn didn’t just focus on academics—she also took breaks and made time for friends. By completing content-heavy subjects in the holidays, she freed up time during the term for extracurriculars and relaxation, avoiding last-minute stress.
“The holidays are not a time to get lazy, but a time to maintain your mental fitness in preparation for the HSC.”
Want to learn more? Read the full article on Caitlyn’s HSC Hacks on the Top Tips for Maximising your Holidays.
Set yourself up for a stress-free and successful Year 11 and 12. Holiday tutoring ensures that you make the most of your break. Spaces fill up quickly, so reach out now to secure your spot!
Written by Matrix Education
Matrix is Sydney's No.1 High School Tuition provider. Come read our blog regularly for study hacks, subject breakdowns, and all the other academic insights you need.
© Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au, 2023. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Matrix Education and www.matrix.edu.au with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
