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

Ever wondered how top HSC students consistently score Band 6 in Maths? How do they tackle procrastination, tricky topics and lack of motivation that we all feel?

We spoke to some Matrix students who made it into the top 2%, and they shared exactly how they did it. In this article, you’ll learn how they stayed consistent, handled stress, and tackled the hardest topics, so you can learn from their experience.

Table of contents:

• Meet the students
• 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 (that you should copy)

While, of course, every student has their own personality and schedules, these students do share a few powerful habits that held them become high achievers!

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

Habit 1:  Track and learn from your mistakes

Each of these Band 6 students actively learn from their errors in school and Year 12 tutoring. Instead of just fixing an error and forgetting about it, they documented it with a mistake log or error book. It’s used to show you exactly what you need to revise more, and avoid making the same errors in the exam.

• Ella kept a “mistakes book” split by subject, and reviewed 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 Google doc”.
• Iris 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 just general content.

How to do it yourself:

1. Create a Google Doc, notebook, or spreadsheet for mistakes.
2. After each paper or set of practice questions, list:
   •   The question
   •   Your wrong answer
   •   The correct method
3. Why you got it wrong (e.g. skipped step, misunderstood concept)
4. Before your next exam, spend time reviewing this list. Focus on the mistakes you make the most. It’s the most efficient way for you to fix gaps and build confidence.

Habit 2: Practise intentionally, not just endlessly

It may be tempting to think that more past papers equal better marks. But these high-performing students were strategic with how and when they used them. They separated exam practice into these three phases below.

Here’s what that looked like:

• George only started timed past papers after completing the summary notes.
• Ella marked her papers with the official NESA marking guidelines to spot her weaknesses.
• Emma delayed past papers until she had revised thoroughly, then timed herself under strict conditions.
• Iris tracked every paper she did and followed the open-book → closed-book → timed sequence.

Every paper you do should build on your knowledge. If they continue to confuse you, it’s time to deep dive into the mistakes you’re making.

Try it yourself:

• Start with open-book practice early in your study. Focus on learning how to approach the topic
• Once comfortable, move to closed-book and focus on testing your memory.
• In the final 2-3 weeks before exams, do full past papers under strict time conditions, just like the real exam.

Use NESA marking guidelines to check your answers. Look at score AND structure.

Habit 3: Collaborate, don’t isolate

Studying with others helped these students improve faster. The technique here is called collaborative learning. You work together to solve problems, mark each other’s work, and explain concepts to each other. Throughout this process, you’re teaching someone else, which helps you understand better too.

• Emma studied Maths with friends, compared solutions, and built notes together.
• Iris studied in small groups (2-3 people), peer-marked past papers, and explained concepts aloud.
• Caitlyn challenged her study partners and used their feedback to refine her weak areas.

Studying this way helps you find new ways to solve problems, remember things better, and stay motivated.

How you can implement it:

• Team up with 1-2 classmates or friends who are motivated.
• Meet regularly (weekly and/or online) to revise together, quiz each other, or compare solutions.
• Take turns explaining difficult concepts to each other. This is 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 (fight distractions)

High achievers know that effective study means having uninterrupted focus. They do anything and everything to fight distractions. Each student found their own ways to limit interruptions from their phones, reduce multitasking, and work 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 distractions at home and found motivation from the environment.
• Iris planned short bursts of work (max 2 hours) and changed up her schedule so she wouldn’t get bored or feel overworked.

Try it yourself:

• Use distraction blocking tools like Forest, Cold Turkey, or SelfControl.
• 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 . Find a place where you actually get work done.

Habit 5: Set clear goals and stay consistent

Every high-achiever had one thing in common: they didn’t just “hope” to do well; they set clear goals and built routines to reach them. This is called 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 your goal down and put it somewhere you’ll see every day (on your wall, notebook, or phone wallpaper).
• Use a weekly planner or Google Calendar to set mini goals and track tasks.
• Focus on progress, not perfection. Even 30 focused minutes a day will add up to your advantage.
• 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. Being intentional about finding balance between study and life is important. So, while you’re scheduling your study sessions, also think about downtime, keeping up hobbies, and staying mentally healthy.

• George played competitive sports 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 with  Youth Group on Fridays.
• Caitlyn stayed active with music, athletics, and cross-country.
• Iris scaled back her dance hours but didn’t stop entirely. She also planned her study around doing things she enjoyed.

How you can implement it:

• Schedule your breaks! 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 to actually rest (walk, nap, Netflix, read). Scrolling through TikTok and overstimulating your brain is NOT rest.
• Know your limits. If burnout is creeping in, pull back early instead of crashing later.

Ready to study like a Band 6 Maths student?

You’ve just explored the habits and strategies that helped some of the highest-achieving Year 12 Maths students succeed, from tracking mistakes and setting clear goals to practising with purpose and staying focused.

Turn these into part of your weekly routine, and you won’t just build confidence, you’ll be on your way to earning a Band 6.

What’s one habit from this list that you’re going to try first?