Start Year 11 & 12 Strong: The Ultimate Checklist

Looking to get organised for year 11 or 12 but not quite sure where to start? We’ve got you covered! In preparation for Term 1, we’ve created a checklist of all of the things you need to start the new school year strong!

Map out your year

Planning the year ahead is a great way to get organised and hit the ground running in 2025. By plotting out important dates, such as school terms, exams and events and planning around them, you’ll be prepared when they come around fast!

If you don’t know where to start, check out our Planning a Year lesson - it covers everything you need to know. Print off our Yearly Planner template and add all of your important dates, then display it near your desk. Happy New Year!

• Year Planner Template

Set up your study space

On the topic of desks, setting up a dedicated study area can be a game changer for your studies. A neat, comfortable space will help to improve concentration and reduce stress, meaning less procrastination and more productive revision.

If your interior design skills aren’t quite there yet, you can check out Atomi’s Study Spaces video for practical tips on how to create the perfect study area.

Gather your study resources

Of course, if you really want to be ready for years 11 & 12, you’ll have Atomi in your back pocket. With syllabus-specific lessons, interactive quizzes and smart revision recommendations, Atomi is the ultimate resource for students like you who want to ace this year. You can study anytime, anywhere by downloading the Atomi app or log on with any smart device.

Not using Atomi yet? You can sign up for a free account 🤓

Get to know the syllabus

The syllabus is a resource you need to get your hands on. Why? It contains everything you’ll be studying this year. That’s right, everything. From the topics you’ll be covering to the skills you’ll need, all of your content is covered in the syllabus. So, if you want to be prepared for the year ahead, be sure to get your hands on the syllabus for each of your subjects and read over them. Pop a copy at the front of your notes and refer back to it often.

Write out your goals

Setting academic goals is a great way to start the year strong and gives you something to actively work towards. But when it comes to goal setting, we want to go a little further than “do well in exams” or “get into a particular university”. Instead, we need to ask ourselves “what do I want to achieve and how am I actually going to do it?”

These goals should be specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timely, or as we call them, SMART goals. You can check out our lesson on How to Write Useful Goals for a quick step-by-step guide on how to write your own, plus download our SMART Goals Worksheet.

Establish a good routine

When it comes to studying, we want to use our time effectively and reduce procrastination as much as possible. That’s why getting into a good routine early in the year is so important! This can include how and when you study, making time for extracurricular activities or relaxing. By finding a strategy that works for you, you can set good habits that will carry through the rest of the year, making busy assessment and exam periods easier.

Atomi’s Strategies for Smashing Procrastination video covers some great techniques for staying focused. You can also download the Time Boxing Daily Planner or the Pomodoro Planner and use it to plan a productive day.

Talk to your teachers

If you haven’t already, it’s a great idea to introduce yourself to your teachers. They’ll be working directly with you over the next year, helping you to achieve your goals, providing ongoing support and marking your work!

It may seem simple, but a friendly hello can go a long way 👋

Consider your support network

Particularly in years 11 and 12, a good support network is essential. While you may not necessarily need them right away, it’s important to know where to go for support when you do.

You have your teachers, as well as friends, family, and other staff members, including counsellors and career advisors. There are also other free support services & resources available online from organisations like ReachOut.

Remember
You’ll likely be part of someone else's support network too! Don’t forget to check in with your friends and classmates throughout the year and help each other out.

We know it can be hard to get out of holiday mode and into studying, but with these items ticked off, you’ll be ready for whatever comes along in 2025.

For more tips along the way, keep reading the student blog or follow Atomi on Instagram. See you there 👋