Our students have been through their fair share of exams and learned a lot of great study tactics along the way. Here, they share their top study tips to survive and thrive during exam time, and how you can too.
Take care of your wellbeing first thing in the morning so you can dive into your day with a clear mind. 鈥淚f you win the morning you win the day,鈥 says Vei Koloamatangi-Lamipeti.
An active start is a great way to prepare for a productive day. Begin your morning with exercise or a gentle walk, squeeze in 10 minutes of meditation, and enjoy a healthy breakfast before you settle into study.
If you win the morning, you can win the day
Bachelor of Health Sciences graduate and Juris Doctor student
鈥淪etting up a schedule will help you organise your time so much better,鈥 says Master of Teaching student Wesley Lai.
Setting a goal or a theme for each study block will help you to stay focused, while devoting time across a variety of subjects will ensure you've covered off as much as possible. Remember to keep your schedule realistic and avoid over-committing your time.聽Adds Wesley, 鈥淢ake sure to schedule in some free time for yourself as well!鈥
鈥淢ake studying a habit,鈥 recommends Alvin Chung, who is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.
With enough time and commitment, sitting down to study will start to feel like second nature rather than a chore.聽鈥淒o it every day and you鈥檒l be less likely to procrastinate because it鈥檚 part of your life鈥檚 daily motions,鈥 says Alvin.
Think of the HSC period as a marathon rather than a sprint. It might be tempting to cram every single day but pacing out your study time will help preserve your endurance.
鈥淒on鈥檛 do the work for tomorrow if you finish today鈥檚 work early,鈥 suggests Daniel Kim, Sydney graduate and Delloite employee.聽鈥淓njoy the rest of your day and save the energy for tomorrow,鈥 he recommends.聽Savouring your downtime will help you to avoid burning out before hitting the finish line.
Don鈥檛 do the work for tomorrow if you finish today鈥檚 work early
Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Studies graduate
Sleep is one of your greatest allies during exam season.
We all know we need to be getting around eight hours of sleep a night to perform at our best, but did you know the quality of sleep also matters? You can help improve the quality of your sleep with some simple tweaks to your bedtime routine.
鈥淚鈥檝e found that a good night鈥檚 sleep always helps with concentration and memory consolidation. Avoid caffeine in the six hours leading up to sleep, turn off screens an hour before going to bed, and go to bed at the same time every night,鈥 says Yasodara Puhule-Gamayalage a Bachelor of Science (Medical Science) student.
Revising an entire year of learning can seem like an insurmountable task, which is why it鈥檚 so important to break down your priorities and set easy-to-achieve goals.聽鈥淚 like to make a realistic to-do list where I break down big tasks into smaller chunks.
鈥淭reat yourself after each study block with something to look forward to, such as a cup of tea, a walk in the park with a friend or an episode of your latest Netflix obsession,鈥 says Dannii Hudec.
It鈥檚 also really important to reward yourself after you complete each task to keep yourself motivated.
Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies graduate
With so many distractions at our fingertips, it can be hard to focus on the task at hand. If you find yourself easily distracted, an 鈥渙ut of sight, out of mind鈥 approach might do the trick.
While parting ways with your phone for a few hours may seem horrifying, it can be an incredibly effective way to stay on task.聽
鈥淲hat helps me is to block social media on my laptop,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t really helps me to smash out the work and get my tasks done,鈥 affirms Caitlin.
I put my phone outside of my room when I study, or I give it to my sister or a friend to hide.
Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws recent graduate
With exam dates looming and stress levels rising, chances are high that you might have a bad day (or a few!) during the HSC period.
According to Bachelor of Arts and Advanced Studies student Amy Cooper, the best way to handle those bad days is to show yourself some kindness. 鈥淚 know that if I鈥檓 in a bad state of mind or having a bad day, I鈥檓 not going to be able to produce work that I鈥檓 proud of,鈥 she says.
For Amy, the remedy for a bad day is to take some time to rest and reset.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 much more productive in the long run for me to go away, do some things I love, and come back with a fresh mind.鈥
Immerse yourself in a mentally nourishing activity such as going for a bush walk, cooking your favourite meal, or getting stuck into a craft activity.聽If you feel completely overwhelmed, know you're not alone. Reach out to a friend, family member or teacher for a chat when you need support.