4 steps for getting through mid-year exams

Mid-year exams are here already... you have permission to freak out!

I get it, you feel like you’ve just come back from holidays and you spent the whole time trying to get an awesome tan instead of studying. Now you’re faced with your first real HSC exams, which can be worth anywhere from 15-25% of your internal assessment.

So here’s how to get your sh*t together and put yourself on the path to HSC glory:

How to learn the content

You have to study both Term 1 and Term 2 content (which you’re still learning in class).

Whilst some people say one is more important than the other we think you should focus on both equally. BUT for very different reasons.

1. Term 1 content should be learnt first

The ideal time to start revising this stuff was in the holidays… but lets be honest no one actually did that. So your job now is to get across all the content as soon as possible. Speed is key.

Why first?

• Term 1 content is ‘excepted knowledge.’ Your teachers will assume that you have notes done and you’re up to speed.
• This means barely any class time or revision lessons are going to be dedicated to this – you’re on your own.
• Term 1 stuff is ‘usually’ the first topic in any subject which generally means it’s easier so you can get through it faster
• You haven’t’ covered much material in Term 2 – so this stuff will be a large part of the actual exam
• Questions will tend to be more specific because there isn’t many topics they can test

Game plan:

You need to catch up on this knowledge asap because the teacher will assume you know it all and won’t slow down to wait for you. Also you want to leave the time just before the exam for Term 2 stuff.

Your options:

• Go back through your textbooks and make notes on each topic
• Go back through your classwork.
• Buy Excel books to read the summaries for each topic.
• Use a resource similar to HSC Hub which gives you a quick breakdown of each topic by watching video

2. Study term 2 content second and leading into exams

Why second?

• Term 2 topics tend to ‘build-on’ previous topics
• The concepts are generally harder - most Term 1 content is used as short answer or multiple choice in exams, whilst Term 2 content gets into the longer responses worth more marks
• You will be learning assessable content right up to exam day so you need to stay current
• You won’t have been assessed on this material before

Game plan:

This is less about revision and more about understanding the concepts and then getting what you know into exam practice as soon as possible.

Your job is to stay on top of class work; because you can’t afford to fall behind with everything you learn being assessable. Something like HSC Hub tutorials will help you clarify the concepts in your head a lot faster than a confusing textbook, which will give you the time to then start on your past paper questions earlier.

Focus on application

Being your first HSC exams – exam technique and how to actually answer questions is equally important as learning content.

That’s why we focus at least half of our videos on actual application. By looking at past exam questions and working through them, we give people an understanding of how to actually do well in exams. Giving people the content is only half the deal. It’s going to be the people that practice application most that will end up with the best marks.

Remember they are internal

The biggest thing that most people overlook is the fact that mid-term exams are internally set by your school. That means your teachers will write and mark your exams (unlike HSC).

Use this to your advantage!

• Ask them to point you in the right direction
• Pay attention to stuff they say in class about what to focus on -they normally leave clues!
• Most importantly submit as many drafts as possible and get your teacher to mark your work. The more drafts you get in, the more you’ll know if you’re close to what they’re looking for
• If there are things some teachers like to see in your answers, include them. If they prefer blue pen to black pen…use a blue pen!

You know the markers this time, so be smart. Ask for their feedback and write answers they want to see.

Follow these and you’ll be on track to dominate these exams. Band 6 all round!

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