The HSC is a stressful time for the whole family, and it needs to be approached with the right mindset. Without having a clear idea of how to study for it, a student can become disoriented and overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done. If you fear that this might be the case for your child, this article is perfect for you. Here’s our guide to studying for the HSC exams and how to prepare for it mentally and physically.
1. Start Early
There are a lot of things that need to be reviewed, and the amount of information can quickly be overwhelming. It’s a much better idea to digest a small amount of data for a longer period of time than to rush it all at once. This is why it’s a good idea to start studying early so that you have more time to go through all of it.
2. Make A Study Plan
To effectively study for the HSC, you need a clear direction on what you need to do and what you should be focusing on at that time. This way, you’ll never feel lost and out of control, both of which are leading causes of HSC-anxiety. It will also ensure that you will be able to manage your time much more effectively which will prevent you from wasting your time on less important areas.
During these study sessions, you’ll need to cut yourself off from distractions which will ensure you take in much more information than if you were to study with a mixed schedule.
3. Organise Your Notes
It’s true that the most effective way to study for an exam is by taking and organising your own notes. The problem is when you have too many of them, it can quickly become too much to handle. To avoid this issue, you need to arrange all of your notes by subjects and dates so that they don’t get mixed up. You’ll find that you have a lot more time to do things when you don’t have to fumble through stacks and stacks of notes just to find the one that you’re looking for.
4. Set Up A Study Space
Having a dedicated space to study for an exam will help you stay focused throughout the entire session. If you do everything in your bedroom, the vibe of being in your own room can make you less motivated to study. You need to find a place where you can focus on your studies throughout the session, as this will help you to take in more information.
5. Pace Yourself
Study breaks are important. You need to pace yourself when studying to avoid burning out and failing to take in information. If you need some extra motivation for your studies, you can set a goal to work towards and reward yourself accordingly. Make sure that you’re not rushing through a study session just to get to the reward at the end of the session. The point of a reward is to give yourself a break in between sessions and to prevent burnouts. Also, make sure you get enough sleep each night, as that will affect your ability to learn.
6. Take Practice Tests
A practice exam will give you an idea about what you should focus on. It’s true that the exam questions change every year, but the format usually doesn’t. You need to familiarise yourself with the format of the HSC exam so that you’re not caught off guard during the test.
7. Set Up Study Sessions With Friends
A study session can help you to stay focused while having some help on the topics that you might not be the best at. You can also use it as a time to refresh your memory about something you might have studied a while back and are starting to forget. Make sure you choose a group of friends who are serious about studying, as you don’t want to be stuck in a study session with someone who constantly disrupts the vibe for studying.
Alchemy Tuition specialises in helping students study for their HSC exam. Get in touch today to see how we can help.
