My Actually Helpful Tips for Year 12
By Joanna Cowan
Do what your teacher says!
I used to always lose marks because I wanted to do my assignments the way I wanted. I would argue with the marking criteria and try to pick the most obscure angle I could. However, in year 12 you must just do what the teacher says and pick the simplest angle in order to achieve well. So if you wish to get those top bands, unfortunately you must relinquish your pride.
Hacking the question
This is particularly for biology students but applies to anything, learn how to answer the question! Often what you think the question is asking, it isn’t. You must learn the subtext of the words in the question, memorise the NESA verbs, check the amount of marks in the question and answer accordingly. Often certain questions require you to put in key words in order to achieve all the marks!
Study timetables
Don’t make a study timetable with highly specific times (e.g. 4.45 - 5.00 do chemistry, 5.00 - 5.05 organise biology). You will never be able to meet them exactly and will get increasingly frustrated and anxious when you don’t. Instead allocate big blocks of time for activities (maybe even longer than you need) then use the time you don’t need to finish it as rest time or time to move onto the next movement. I also recommend trying to make a checklist of all the things you need to achieve without an order or timeline and then check them off. Additionally, if you set incredibly unrealistic to do lists, you will only be disappointed in yourself. Set the bar low and add things to your schedule as the day goes on!
Option 1 ❌ | Option 2 ✅ | Option 3 | ||
Time | Subject | 1 hour | Chemistry notebook |
|
4.45 | Chemistry notebook | 2 hours | Biology practice |
|
5.00 | Biology practice | 30 mins | Reading comp Q |
|
5.05 | Reading comp Q | 1 hour | flashcards |
|
5.35 | Flashcards | 3 hours | English essay |
|
Don’t wait for it to be perfect to submit something.
Often I waited too long to submit something because I didn’t think it was good. I needed to make it perfect before I got feedback but then it was too late! So just submit it and submit it really early… like 2 weeks before it is due for english at least! The more feedback you get the better!
Don’t study for the sake of doing it, do it with purpose
Hours and hours of study can be pointless if you are just doing things for the sake of it without taking it in, learning it or processing it e.g. writing out palm cards but not learning them. If you feel like you're not going to learn anything or are super distracted in your mind go for a short walk and take a break. Now note this should not be applied to all the time!
Don’t tune out in class, half the study you need can be done through just listening to your teacher.
This dotpoint has two points, firstly when you listen in class that is your first learning process, if you do it again in study then you will already be getting the information into your long term memory. Secondly, if you only copy the notes from the canvas page and don’t listen to the teacher you miss half the content, especially the niche bits of content that will push you apart from other students. The teachers know their stuff and will give you very useful advice and information embedded in their talking
during class.
And some last quick ones:
Lastly, focus on assignments over homework. BUT homework does help with your overall learning.
Always make a study timetable to send to your teachers if you need.
Keep things organised and correctly labelled in your folders (not like me) as things will get confusing when you need to look back on them for trials.
Start studying for trials early!!! And keep motivated.
Good luck to all future year 12’s, you have got this! AND you are so much more than your marks 💕
