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Want to stay ahead without sacrificing your holidays? Matrix Year 11 student Abbey shares how she used her holidays to boost results and enjoy a more balanced term.
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In this article, Abbey shares her hacks for how she turns her school holiday break into a powerful head start. In her guest post, Abbey explains why giving up a few days of holidays was one of the best decisions she made for Year 11 and improving her marks!
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Name: Abbey
Grade: Year 11
School: Willoughby Girls High School
I’m Abbey and I’m currently in Year 11. If you’re looking to stay ahead and avoid constant stress in your senior years, I think I’ve found the solution – making the most of your school holidays!
Ever since last year, I’ve been using my holidays as a chance to reset, refresh and get a head start on the next term. I’m now less stressed and seeing better school marks.
It all started when I joined a Matrix school holiday program. Honestly, it’s made a huge difference in how I use my holidays and gave me the structure I needed to prepare for Year 11 exams.
Here’s my hacks for how I did it, and why I think more students (like you!) should use their holidays more productively.
So, the big question. Why would I, or anyone for that matter, willingly sacrifice their holidays to study?
Well, there is actually a pretty simple answer: It’s helpful, and surprisingly, really fun.
I know “fun” doesn’t usually go hand-in-hand with study. Most people think of laser tag, gymnastics camps, or scrolling TikTok when they picture a break.
However, back in Term 4 of Year 10, I was already concerned about my schedule in Year 11. How will I balance tutoring, homework, assessments, and still stay sane with my penchant for procrastination?
The only solution I could see was to stop wasting my holiday time lazing around and start using it for productive study.
It’s hard to motivate yourself to study. Like a godsend, I was encouraged towards a Matrix school holiday program.
At first, I was worried that I would regret surrendering my holidays to Year 11 Maths and Chemistry. But I gave it a go, and I’m so glad I did because my fears were quickly resolved.
Pretty quickly, I stopped seeing it as a sacrifice and started seeing it as an opportunity to get ahead. If you’re thinking about joining holiday tutoring, this is your sign to go for it!
If you want to get ahead during the holidays, the key is to keep your study sessions short, structured, and focused. Block out 2-3 hours a day for one subject. Make that time count: Focus on learning what you’re going to learn in school next term by looking at the syllabus and finding past papers or resources to help you.
Treat your holiday study like a mini course. Stick to one subject per session, have a clear goal, and eliminate distractions.
One of the reasons studying during the holidays worked for me was that I took structured holiday courses that did all that for me.
They were 2-3 hour sessions that helped me stay consistent and focused. From day one, I realised they weren’t just another tutoring class or regular school classes.
The teachers are truly inspiring and skilled in their fields. They make the accelerated content incredibly easy to understand in such a short amount of time.
For example, in my latest Maths Extension holiday course, my teacher Kimberly was so helpful. I went from racking my brain for fragments of calculus to scoring my best results in a Matrix Maths topic test ever!
I genuinely looked forward to doing three hours of Maths a day during my holidays. And honestly, I’m excited to go back.
I don’t think studying should be a solo sport. Invite a friend to revise with you, join a holiday workshop, or study at the library. But keep in mind! Choose to study with people who share the same mindset as you; if they’re not as motivated to get high marks in Year 10 or 11, find someone who is.
I found this motivating environment through my holiday tutoring classes.
The spirit of camaraderie and ambition within my school holiday program were so incredibly inspiring.
You get to meet like-minded students with a passion for their subjects and a desire to achieve their best. This encourages you to stay on track and find enjoyment in your learning.
My class really bonded over the experience, and we even had lots of inside jokes going on.
One time, my friend and I, while practising differentiation questions during Maths, began singing this really annoying song, and I now can’t do calculus without it getting stuck inside my head.
It wasn’t a sacrifice. It was an investment in both my learning and my well-being.
During a lot of my previous holidays, there would be at least one week where I would do… nothing. It was neither restful nor productive. I was just lying on the couch…
Scrolling on my phone…
However, building a low-intensity routine for several full days throughout the holiday break changed that. I would go to Matrix class, get ahead in Maths and Chemistry, come home to do my homework, and still have time to relax.
Funnily enough, I was more refreshed and energised starting the new term!
Studying in the holidays doesn’t mean you’re giving up your break – it just means you’re using it better.
Don’t overpack your holidays. Aim for a half-day of study followed by something fun.
Even a simple routine like “study in the morning, rest in the afternoon” will help you keep up that productivity.
A step-by-step planner to maximise you time for study and play!
Use your break to preview what’s coming next term. Because you’ve covered so much in the holidays, you can spend the term revising and becoming more advanced than your classmates, instead of learning new content under pressure.
I didn’t feel like I had sacrificed my holidays; rather, I made the most of them.
Please believe me when I say you can still have fun in the holidays while dedicating some time to study!
Last holidays, while completing the entire Term 3 syllabus for Maths Extension 1 and Module 3 of Chemistry, I also:
That’s the magic of the Matrix school holiday program – it doesn’t take over your life. It gives you structure so you can get ahead academically and still enjoy your time off.
If you want to boost your marks without sacrificing your break, my biggest tip is to create structure. The easiest way to do that is by enrolling in a school holiday program.
I definitely recommend trying a program like Matrix. It gave me a clear routine, expert guidance, and a huge head start before the term even began. I didn’t waste time figuring out what to study or how to study it—the program laid it all out, so I could just focus and improve.
If you’re not taking a formal course, mimic one. Set a schedule for the week, choose the topics you’ll cover, and stick to short, focused sessions. Remember, structure is the key to making your holidays productive and enjoyable.
Q: Is a Year 11 school holiday program worth it?
A: Absolutely. Year 11 is a foundational year for senior high school. A school holiday program can help you get ahead, reduce stress, and build confidence in core subjects, which means less panic and more control during the term.
Q: Will I have time to relax if I do a Matrix holiday course?
A: Yes! Most students (like Abbey) find that the structure actually gives them more time to unwind. Classes are just a few hours a day, leaving you free to enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Q: What subjects are covered in the school holiday program?
A: Matrix offers holiday courses in English, Maths (Standard, Advanced, Extension), Chemistry, Physics, and more, tailored to each year group, including Year 11.
Q: Is the content different from regular term courses?
A: The content is either accelerated or revision-based, depending on the subject and time of year. It’s designed to support your school syllabus and help you get ahead or consolidate knowledge before assessments.
Q: Can I do the program online?
A: Yes! All Matrix school holiday programs are available both on-campus and online via Matrix+ — same content, same quality, more flexibility.
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.
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