Sienna’s HSC Study Tips: How To Ace Your Half Yearlies

Sienna’s HSC Study Tips: How To Ace Your Half Yearlies

Whether its your first day of Term 1, your half yearlies are just around the corner, or you’re preparing for your HSC exams, this article is for you. Read on as high-achiever and Matrix scholarship student Sienna unveils her top HSC study tips for acing your Year 11 and 12 exams.

Me, Myself, and I

Name: Sienna Monahan

School: SCEGGS Darlinghurst

Grade: 12

ATAR: 99.95

University goal: Bachelor of Law or Bachelor of Commerce

A little about me

As a team-sports enthusiast, I love getting competitive over a game of soccer with friends. I also enjoy getting down and dirty with the leeches on a Duke of Edinburgh hike, reading murder mysteries, or going for a swim at the beach.

My subjects

• Maths Extension 1
• English Advanced
• Chemistry
• Modern History
• Economics
• Visual Arts

My school life

In terms of extra-curricular activities, I enjoyed playing touch football over Term 1, and am looking forward to soccer in the winter terms. Recently, I finished my silver Duke of Edinburgh award, involving a three day hike along the Great North Walk!

I am comfortable with:

• Maths: I mainly appreciate the methodical nature of maths, where a basic understanding of key concepts can be applied to a multitude of problems. In this way, it feels more natural to build up to more difficult problems and, with enough practice, barely any thinking is needed at all. I have also found it easier to achieve academic goals in maths due to the distinct difference between right and wrong solutions, with little room for negotiation (except maybe proofs!). Additionally, our maths class has remained mostly the same for the past 4 years, and the accelerant course has only helped bring us closer together, to create a really cohesive learning environment.
• Art: I most appreciate the break from regular learning methods in art, especially in completing practicals for our major works. While there is some writing, this is mostly interpretative, and I enjoy studying the contextual background/history associated with different artworks.

I sometimes struggle with:

• English: While I have enjoyed studying various texts in Year 12 so far – including Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Ted Hughes & Sylvia Plath’s poetry, English is probably my weakest subject. I am often tempted to memorise certain theses or patterns of argument, but this reduces my ability to properly answer unique questions under timed conditions. To improve, I have attempted to gain a more well-rounded understanding of my texts through supplementary research into author and context. I have also increased the number of paragraph responses I’ve been submitting for marking through Matrix+ to gain valuable feedback from expert teachers on where i can strengthen my writing.

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My Top HSC Study Tips

1. Notetaking

During the term, I compile comprehensive notes with definitions, dates, formulas, examples etc. This ensures an adequate level of detail that I may not be able to replicate during the holidays or directly before the exam period. This eases the pressure when rereading and testing myself, or if I need to relearn something before an assessment task.

I first recognised the benefits of this when I starting Modern History last year; Although I felt that I understood everything in the moment it was taught in class, I often found it difficult to recall key stats, dates and even names only a few weeks later. This was when I realised it would be a lot simpler to make notes after every lesson, so I could spend any extra study time prior to exams simply doing practice responses to solidify my understanding of Russia’s Romanov Dynasty!

Below are my Extension 1 Maths Summary Notes. I’ve found it helpful to write them all down on looseleaf paper throughout the term, and then gradually add them to a big “Revision Notes” binder!

2. Revision Questions

After going over my notes, I like to complete a range of revision questions that focus on specific topics or skills; this can include regular textbook exercise questions, Matrix workbooks (as seen in the image below), sections from past papers, or even online platforms such as Mathspace or Cambridge HOTMaths.  For example, before my recent half-yearlies, I realised I hadn’t retained a lot of the vectors I learned in Term 4 of the previous year. So, I committed to doing vectors worksheets and miscellaneous questions to catch up before attempting any full practice papers.

3. Practice Papers

My final HSC study tip for half yearly revision is to complete practice and trial papers from both your own school and others. These should be done under timed conditions to record how efficient your exam technique is, as well as how quickly you can remember content. Your effectiveness at completing past papers under exam conditions will directly correlate with your success on the real thing.  Above my desk, I have made a little numbered table to check off the number of practice papers I have completed for each subject. This gives me a little boost of confidence when exams roll around and my table is all full!

4. Subject-Specific Hacks

Maths/Chemistry/Economics: FAILbook

In my economics exam last term, there were three multiple choice questions which I distinctly recognised as being taken either from a previous HSC paper, or a prior internal assessment. I had kept track of the mistakes I made in preparing for economics, so it was easy to identify not only that I had already completed this questions once before, but I’d actually failed them… the first time. By keeping a comprehensive FAIL (First Attempt In Learning) Book to record any mistakes you make or questions you really struggled with, you can highlight key areas for improvement and ensure you don’t make these mistakes in future.

English: Extra Essay

When studying Macbeth in Year 10, I made the mistake of only having done one ‘reading’ (or interpretation) of the play. By only examining the text from the lens of one theme, idea or argument , I later struggled to adapt my prepared arguments to a new exam question on test day. Now, after submitting a first draft essay, I try to write an entirely new essay (with completely different theses, quotes and themes). This allowed me to develop a more well-rounded understanding of the text and expand my abilities to write responses for any given question.

5. My Number One Study Tip

My number one HSC study tip for acing your half yearlies would be to plan ahead! After every school holidays, I put up a new term planner on my wall and highlight exam week, telling myself I have eight weeks to get everything in check! Then half the term will fly by, and suddenly exams are just around the corner!

To avoid the stress of this phenomenon, I have a weekly and LONG TERM to-do list, to work steadily towards my goals. For example, for a given assignment, I might have an intro by Week 1, research done by halfway through Week 3, the first paragraph done by Week 4 and so on. This approach allows me to avoid last minute surprises, as well as submit with ample time before the due date. For an exam, I’ll consolidate my notes after every class and attend a Matrix holiday course or workshop to synthesise my understanding even further. After this step, I’ll do regular practice questions to keep everything fresh!

The Take-Away: My Final Advice To HSC Students

My final word of advice to all current and future Year 12 students is that, among all of these academic pressures and HSC study tips, it’s also necessary to make time for yourself. Obviously, some sacrifices have to be made (for me, this was Strings, Mock Trials and Club Soccer/Netball), but it is still possible to hold onto some co-curriculars, interests and passions.

While it is definitely important to devote time and effort to schoolwork to ensure academic success, there should still be room in your week for you! Whether this is a birthday dinner, the occasional concert, or even weekly Saturday sport, make sure you find time to unwind, relax and have fun, otherwise burnout will find you before those Band 6s do. Your senior years are meant to be some of the most enjoyable years of your life (with closer, maturing relationships, and more freedom than ever before). So, while homework and study are necessary components of your HSC routine, they do not need to be the full extent of your high school life.