How to Study Like Band 6 Maths Students: Tips from Top 2%

Ever wondered how top HSC students consistently score Band 6 in Year 12 Maths?

We went through blog posts written by some Matrix students who actually did it, and what we found were consistent, actionable habits that helped them smash their goals. In this article, we break down what each student did and what you can learn from their experience.

Table of contents:

• Meet the students
  • George Ge (98.55 ATAR)
  • Ella Yang (99.55 ATAR)
  • Ymer Bushati (99.90 ATAR)
  • Caitlyn Tan (99,65 ATAR)
  • Emma Bu (99.95 ATAR)
  • Iris Huang (99.50 ATAR)
• 6 common habits of band 6 Maths students:
  • Track and learn from your mistakes
  • Practise intentionally, not just endlessly
  • Collaborate, don’t isolate
  • Protect your focus
  • Set clear goals and stay consistent
  • Balance, don’t burn out

Meet the students

Name: George Ge ATAR: 98.55 School: Sydney Boys Subjects: English Advanced, Maths Extension 1 and 2, Physics, and Economics. Read George’s full blog article here.
Name: Ella Yang ATAR: 98.55 School: Abbotsleigh Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Advanced, Mathematics and Mathematics Extension. Read Ella’s full blog article here.
Name: Ymer Bushati ATAR: 98.55 School: Sydney Boys Subjects: English Advanced, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2. Read Ymer’s full blog article here.
Name: Caitlyn Tan ATAR: 99.65 School: Pymble Ladies’ College Subjects: English Advanced, Chemistry, Physics, Latin, Mathematics Extension 1 and Mathematics Extension 2 Read Caitlyn’s full blog article here.
Name: Emma Bu ATAR: 99.95 School: North Sydney Girls High School Subjects: English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 2 and Extension 1, Legal Studies, Chemistry and Japanese Continuers. Read Emma’s full blog article here.
Name: Iris Huang ATAR: 99.50 School: Hornsby Girls High School Subjects: English Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Mathematics Extension 2, Chemistry and Biology. Read Iris’s full blog article here.

Common Habits of Band 6 Maths Students (and How You Can Make Them Yours)

Despite their different personalities and schedules, these students all followed a few key study habits to become high achievers!

Here’s what they did — and how you can do it too.

Habit 1:  Track and Learn from Your Mistakes

All these students active learning from their errors in school and Year 12 tutoring. They don’t just fix them in the moment, but document and review them. They keep a mistake log or error book. It’s used to help you identify recurring issues and reinforce the right method so you don’t repeat mistakes under exam pressure.

• Ella kept a “mistakes book” organised by subject, revising it before every exam.

• Caitlyn created a “FAIL folder” and tracked error types in a table to revise weekly.

• Emma wrote down the questions she got wrong and added them to a “mistakes doc”.

• Iris also made mini summary sheets before exams with the things she typically forgot.

This approach helped them focus revision where it mattered most — on personal weak spots, not general content.

How you can implement it:

• Create a Google Doc, notebook, or spreadsheet for mistakes.

• After each paper or set of practice questions, list:

  • The mistake

  • The correct method

  • Why you got it wrong (e.g. skipped step, misunderstood concept)

• Before exams, revise this list — it’s the fastest way to target improvement.

Habit 2: Practise Intentionally, Not Just Endlessly

Instead of just doing more Maths past papers, these students were strategic with how and when they used them. They separated exam practice into three phases:

1. Open-book practice when learning the content

2. Closed-book practice to test memory and understanding

3. Timed practice to simulate exam conditions

• George only started timed past papers after completing summary notes.

• Ella marked her papers with the official guidelines to identify weaknesses.

• Emma delayed past papers until she had revised thoroughly, then timed herself under strict conditions.

• Iris followed the open-book → closed-book → timed sequence and tracked every paper she did.

Every paper you do should build on your knowledge, not just reinforce confusion.

How you can implement it:

• Start with open-book practice early in your prep.

• Once comfortable, move to closed-book and focus on memory recall.

• In the final 2–3 weeks before exams, simulate the real thing with time pressure.

• Use NESA marking guidelines to assess yourself. Look at score AND structure.

Habit 3: Collaborate, Don’t Isolate

Studying with others helped these students improve faster. The technique here is collaborative learning — bouncing ideas off peers, peer-marking, and explaining concepts to others (which strengthens your own understanding).

• Emma studied Maths with friends, compared solutions, and co-built notes.

• Iris studied in small groups (2–3 people), peer-marked past papers, and explained concepts aloud.

• Caitlyn used collaborative discussion and challenge when refining problem areas.

These sessions help you find new ways to solve problems, remember things better by teaching others, and stay motivated.

How you can implement it:

• Set up a study group (even just 1–2 people).

• Meet regularly to revise together, quiz each other, or compare solutions.

• Take turns explaining difficult concepts to each other — it’s one of the most powerful forms of learning.

• Peer-mark each other’s work using marking criteria and give honest feedback.

Habit 4:  Protect Your Focus (and Fight Distractions)

High achievers know that deep work requires protecting their focus. It’s called distraction management — limiting digital interruptions, reducing multitasking, and working in focus-boosting environments.

• Ymer removed his phone and installed website blockers.

• George turned off his devices and studied on paper when his focus slipped.

• Emma used productivity apps like Forest to track study blocks and gamify focus.

• Ella studied at the library to get away from home distractions and found motivation from the environment.

• Iris planned short bursts of work (max 2 hrs) and changed up her schedule to avoid burnout.

How you can implement it:

• Use apps like Forest, Cold Turkey, or SelfControl to block distractions.

• Try the Pomodoro method — 25 minutes focus, 5 minutes break.

• Put your phone out of reach or use airplane mode during study blocks.

• Choose a location that works for you: library, quiet room, even outside — wherever you actually get work done.

Habit 5: Set Clear Goals and Stay Consistent

These students had clear academic goals. This is rooted in goal-setting psychology: Seeing the target helps you stay motivated and plan effectively.

• Emma wanted a 99.95 ATAR and made task-based weekly plans to get there.

• Ymer printed motivational quotes and reminders about his dream of studying medicine.

• Caitlyn used weekly tables to monitor progress and revise smarter.

• George used Matrix holiday courses and consistent weekly routines to stay ahead.

• Iris planned only a week at a time to avoid burnout and updated her schedule with coloured edits when plans changed.

How you can implement it:

• Write down your goal and keep it visible — on your wall, desk, or phone.

• Use a weekly planner or Google Calendar to set mini goals and track tasks.

• Focus on progress, not perfection — even 30 focused minutes is progress.

• Don’t be afraid to adjust your plan — as long as you’re still moving forward.

Habit 6: Balance, Don’t Burn Out

Every single student valued rest and recovery. Intentional balance means scheduling downtime, keeping up hobbies, and staying mentally healthy.

• George played competitive sport and used mornings for training.

• Emma never gave up her favourite shows — she just watched them during breaks guilt-free.

• Ella volunteered, played guitar, and kept up Youth Group on Fridays.

• Caitlyn stayed active with music, athletics, and cross-country.

• Iris reduced her dance hours but didn’t quit completely. She also planned study around doing things she enjoyed.

How you can implement it:

• Build your breaks into your schedule — treat rest like part of the study plan.

• Don’t give up all your hobbies. Keep at least one that brings you joy and resets your brain.

• Use your breaks for real recovery — walk, nap, Netflix, read.

• Know your limits. If burnout is creeping in, pull back early instead of crashing later.

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