How to dominate mid-year exams!

With your first set of exams creeping up on you, the fear is probably starting to set in. There are a thousand questions running through your head: when do I start studying, what do I study, how long do I study for, how do I even study?!?

It’s so easy to get caught up in complicated highlighting systems, coffee breaks every 5 minutes and excellently colour coded notes. Before you know it, your first exam is tomorrow morning and all you have going for you is a caffeine headache and fluoro stained fingers. Not good.

So to help you out we put together a quick guide to studying for your first set of exams.

1. Understand what these exams mean

We get it, all exams are stressful. But, your first set of exams are only 1/3 of the sets of exams you’re going to sit throughout the year. But in many ways these exams are super important. This is because they’re the exams where you cement your study patterns and make sure they work for you. This is the time to try that study timetable, the new memory trick and that new video website (hint hint HSC Hub) to really see if they work so you’re all set to smash trials and the HSC.

2. Get organised with your time

The major key is to start studying ahead of time, leaving at least 2, if not 3 or 4 weeks to get studying for exams. Start out by looking through the topics you’ll be covering by looking at the syllabus. Then make a list of all the things you have to do to perfectly memorise each topic and be set to write an essay about it.

For example, I might have an exam on the International Crime part of the Legal Studies syllabus. So my list might say, watch the Atomi video on international crime, write notes from the video, practice writing an essay using the notes, memorise the main points of the essay. Then allocate each task on your list to a day over the next few weeks, so that you know exactly what you have to study all the way up until the exams!

3. Start revising the topics you don't know

Every part of the syllabus has that one section that you look at and wonder, ‘Did I ever learn this?’ Maybe you were sick from class, maybe you weren’t listening – but one way or another you’re going to need to learn it. Sure, you could bore yourself to death by trying to learn it from the 20 pages of the textbook, or you could cut the boredom and give something fun a try. Atomi videos will cover each dot point in an interesting and memorable way – and the best bit? It only takes around 6 minutes per dot point! Easy.

4. Do a whole bunch of practice

So practice might not always make perfect – but it almost always makes band sixes. Past papers are the key, and getting your hand on as many questions as possible is the best option. The secret to doing past papers correctly is to really focus on questions that you find hard or get wrong. Work out where those questions fit in the syllabus, go back over that dot point in your notes, or watch a video or two and make sure you never get the question wrong again. If you’re struggling with how to answer a question or an essay, check out our application videos – they cover how band six and state ranking students answer past paper questions and can help you make sure you’re hitting those high marks.

5. Get memorising

A lot of people get stuck in step 3 and 4 and never get around to actually making sure all the work they’ve done is 100% in their head! Memorisation is essential for English quotes, Maths formulas and stats and dates in just about every other subject. Some people find that writing their essays and quotes out again and again help them commit to muscle memory. Others prefer to read out loud, or teach friends how a concept works to solidify it into their memory. Sticking topics to memorise on shower doors, colour coding, getting your parents to quiz you and flash cards are also great ways of memorising.

So that’s it, it’s time to start planning for those exams and getting into it! Remember, everyone is different, and everyone studies differently. But you never know, you could try something these exams that ends up leading to a band six! It’s all about giving it a go!