The HSC is not the end of the world. I vividly remember every single teacher, person I met on the street, shopkeeper and relative repeatedly telling me this when I was in Year 12. But it’s hard to listen to adults who did the HSC around 20 years ago before scaling and ranking existed and probably can’t even remember what subjects they studied!
I did the HSC three years ago, and to be honest, I struggled a lot. However, after coming out of it, I can now share what I learnt, what I could have done better and what I wish I knew when I was going into it. One thing I did learn is that my teacher was right, HSC is not the end of the world.
1. If you need help with your mental health, get it!
Just because someone else may be struggling more than you, doesn’t mean that your experience is invalid! I went through my entire HSC year with undiagnosed anxiety, and this was the main reason I struggled so much with my studies. If I could go back to Year 12, this would be the first thing I would change. If you are struggling with your mental health, talk to your folks or GP about your options. There is always someone willing to listen.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others
“I studied for 8 hours today and wrote five English essays and two Legal essays and did four Maths practice papers…” sound familiar? With the nature of the HSC and the ranking system, it’s pretty hard not to compare yourself to other students. However, if someone needs to tell you how much they are studying to receive validation, they are likely just as stressed as you are. Spending time worrying about others will just make you more stressed. Your time is much better spent concentrating on yourself.
3. Practice papers are your best friend
While knowledge of your subjects is great to have, the most important part is being able to APPLY that knowledge. Doing past papers is the best way to practice this. If the thought of doing them overwhelms you, then start with doing one without a time limit, before trying to do them timed.
4. Make realistic study goals
There is no point in writing down a million things you need to do in a day if you’re not going to be able to complete them. Start with writing down a list of realistic tasks you can do, if that is writing one practice essay and memorising five English quotes, then great! Those are your tasks for today, and once you have finished them, you can relax. If you write yourself an endless list of tasks to do, they will just weigh on your mind for the entire day and make you feel overwhelmed.
5. Pre-plan your time for exams
Make sure to plan out exactly how long you are going to spend on each section of your exams. This allows you to stay on top of your time and make sure you are able to complete each section!
And to top it off, three years after finishing the HSC, I have many friends who can’t even remember what ATAR they got. While it is important to work hard during this year, the HSC and your ATAR do not determine the rest of your life - there are many ways to get into uni or continue studying. As long as you work to the best of your abilities with the circumstances you have, that is all anyone can ask of you.