Student Profiles

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday June 16, 2008

Kerry Coleman, Leesha McKenny

Anita van Zwieten, Penrith Anglican College, Biology

WHEN it comes to the HSC, the best advice Anita van Zwieten can give is to ignore your friends. If she had listened to their advice, she wouldn't have come sixth in the state in Biology.

"Everyone told me not to do Biology," she says. "Because so many people do it in the HSC, they said it would drag my marks down."

She decided to do the subject anyway and was shocked by her result. She says the secret to her success was her study method.

"Everything you need to know is listed in the syllabus," she says. "I printed off all the syllabus points, cut each one out, stuck them on separate pages and answered them underneath. That way I knew I had covered everything."

Another tip for exam success is understanding what the question is asking.

"Each question has a descriptor like discuss, explain and describe," van Zwieten says. "These words have a very specific meaning according to the Board of Studies and if you don't know exactly what they mean, you're at a disadvantage."

How to do well in Biology

"A few days prior to the exam, read each syllabus point and talk yourself through everything you know about it. If you can answer it thoroughly, put it aside and move on to something you don't already know."

"The multiple-choice section of the exam is very tricky because there are usually two correct answers and you must pick the one that is more correct. Doing lots of practice questions helps and you can start to see patterns in the types of questions they ask."

"People are intimidated by the long-answer section of the exam but they shouldn't be. You don't have to write beautifully, you just have to be clear. Use short, easy-to-understand sentences and get to the point quickly."

"Spend a few minutes jotting down a plan for your long-answer questions, including your intro, a few points and your conclusion. That way, if you run out of time, the markers can still award you marks."

"Make sure you know your experiments. A lot of people think that stuff in the second column of the syllabus isn't in the exam but it is. You have to know your experiments and if you do they are easy marks."

Kerry Coleman

Jack Dwyer, Epping Boys High School, English (Advanced)

JACK DWYER says one of the best ways to survive English is to try to enjoy it.

By this he means to draw out elements in the subject that you like and use them to find relevance to your own life.

Dwyer, 18, says this helped him come up with more original responses to questions, including in areas he didn't particularly enjoy, such as the poetry of William Butler Yeats.

"He's got lots of ideas running through that focus on the vices and flaws and follies of mankind and I find that interesting, so I went with that rather than be preoccupied with [ideas of] age and that sort of thing," he says.

Dwyer, who also placed well in chemistry, physics and maths, says English can be used as a balance to other subjects.

"Because they were so varied, I could do one and that would be release from the other," he says. "So with English I could be more creative with it, and then I could move onto something mathsy."

He says regardless of the subject, the key is to keep to a consistent and balanced study regime throughout the final school year.

"I did take time out and go to the beach with friends before the HSC and I still went out on the weekends between exams."

How to do well in English (Advanced)

If you liked reading books before you did the HSC, draw on these critical-reading skills when studying.

Seek feedback on ideas and draft essays from teachers. "They were always giving me feedback on whether the ideas I was going with were legit or good enough and whether I was arguing strongly enough or whether my language was too verbose and over-the-top."

Think outside the study guide. "It's good to come up with your own ideas and it just shows that it's original and you enjoy it more."

Don't rote-learn essays and have a wide understanding of the text so you can respond well to the question in the exam. "People just go in with their own conception of what they have to do and they don't take into account what they've been asked to do."

Allocate your time in the exam because lost time adds up. "Even if it's only five minutes here or there that builds up and by the end of the paper you've lost 15 minutes for the last section of it."

Leesha McKenny

Sarah Evans, St George Girls High School, PDHPE

SARAH EVANS didn't play any team sports to relax while studying for her HSC but they did help her in other ways.

Evans says she applied what she learnt playing sport to the theoretical aspects of PDHPE - a subject she topped last year.

"To answer the question you need two points - knowing the theory and then giving the example and showing that you understand how it works," she says.

"If you've played [a sport] in junior school or sometime earlier in your life, you can apply the skill that you learn in PE to what you've done in the sport."

Exercise was an important part of her study regime. "My de-stress was an hour run - I would even do that twice a day going into the HSC," she says. "You've got to get away from the desk and out of the house."

The steady study workload paid off for Evans, who is now studying commerce-law at the University of Sydney after coming second in legal studies.

How to do well in PDHPE

Know the syllabus back to front, especially for tackling the eight- to 12-point questions. "They have a dot point for every point [in the syllabus] and the dashes underneath tell you how to answer each question."

Use any sports you have played in the past to help develop comprehensive examples you can apply to theory. "Like the fitness components in cross-country. Knowing that cross-country can help you with agility and speed and be affected by motivation."

Have an outline of what you are expected to know. "I'd read the section you were going to do in class just before the class. Then what the teacher is saying is more valuable."

Learn as you go. "You're not ever going to do as well as you can potentially do if you're cramming. I basically learned the stuff in class or when I got home."

Study small blocks of each subject every day or about an hour for each during stuvac. "[When we were] going into study for the trials, one of my teachers reckoned we should do an hour a day for each subject."

Leesha McKenny

James Sin, James Ruse Agricultural High School, Agriculture

FOR James Sin studying Agriculture in year 11 was a chance to get one subject under his belt early. The 17-year-old took up the option of continuing his school's compulsory Agriculture course in year 10 through to year 11, topping the state in the subject last year.

"It meant that I could dedicate a lot more time to Agriculture rather than worrying about other subjects," he says.

Sin says he is going to use the study skills he acquired to the rest of his courses in this year's HSC - all 15 units of them.

"It has given me a greater ability to cope with stress and perform under pressure."

But beyond study, Sin says Agriculture gave him an insight into the plight of Australia's rural communities and the problems they face, such as drought.

"I'm not planning to study something agriculture-related at university but the skills I've gained will benefit me in later life."

How to do well in Agriculture

Make good notes on each topic. "And revise those notes frequently."

Take note of key words in the exam and make sure your answers are relevant and accurate. "Sometimes people get a rushed and they don't read the question carefully."

Use your teachers as a resource. "A lot of the time our teacher gave us handouts, directed us to websites and drew our attention to articles in The Land newspaper."

It pays to go through past papers available on the Board of Studies website, as well as notes from past students. "I found that using notes from previous grades that had finished the course was quite beneficial because it gave me a resource to refer to."

Choosing the experiment for the second half of assessment can be time-consuming but rewarding. "The good point is that if you like your project, you don't have to sit paper 2 and you have 30 of the 100 marks out of the way before the exam."

Remember to take time out and socialise. "[This is] because you do need some balance between study and recreation."

Leesha McKenny

Tandeep Singh, Homebush Boys High School, Ancient History

ANCIENT history is seen as a soft option by many HSC students but Tandeep Singh says nothing could be further from the truth.

"It has a reputation as a bludgy subject," he says. "That's why so many students do it in their HSC, but in actual fact, it's a lot of work. It's definitely not easy."

Singh, who was among the top 20 in the state in Ancient History, says mountains of extra reading is the most challenging part of the subject.

"The exam consists of a few short-answer questions and several long-essay questions," he says. "To do well in the essays, you have to go beyond what's in your textbooks and find other sources. Basically, that amounts to a whole lot of extra reading."

Singh says the amount of reading students do determines how well they score in the subject. "Ancient History has one of the largest candidatures in the HSC, so to distinguish yourself is vital if you want to succeed. The best way to do that is with extra sources. Ask your teacher for more books to read; read books by respected historians and scholars," he says, adding that there are many journals online easily found with a Google search.

How to do well in Ancient History

"The course is heavily focused on English and writing so make sure your essay skills are up to scratch."

"Make sure you use a lot of different sources. Any point you make in an essay should be backed up with quotes from another historical source. Copying down something from your textbook and regurgitating it in the exam won't cut it."

"Memorise at least two quotes from an external source for each topic. This will strengthen any arguments you make and really make you stand out from the crowd."

"It is crucial to do practice papers in exam conditions before the actual exam. It helps with time management and allows you to assess where your strengths and weaknesses lie in time to fix them."

"Even if you forget the exact wording of quotes in the exam, still reference the historian. Providing an outline of their main ideas, even if it's not in quote form, will still earn you extra marks."

Kerry Coleman

Laura McKell, MacKillop Senior College, Visual Arts

During her HSC year, Laura McKell had her time planned to the last minute - but not for academic reasons. Rather, McKell's strict timetable helped her make the most of her leisure time.

"I hated the idea of sacrifice, that you have to give up TV and video games to do well in the HSC," she says. "By planning every second of my time, I could make sure I had time for all my studies and for relaxation. And because I had time allocated for everything, I didn't feel guilty when I sat down to watch my favourite TV shows."

The 19-year-old, who topped the state in Visual Arts, says thorough planning is particularly important for subjects with large practical components.

"For Visual Arts, you have to find 50 hours to work on your major project, in addition to all your other subjects, assignments and exams," she says. "Being really organised is the only way you can get everything done and still have time for other things."

McKell says sticking to your strengths is another way to ensure success in Visual Arts.

"When it comes time to choose a medium and subject for your major project, stick to what you're best at, because that's almost always what you enjoy," she says. "I chose to complete a drawing because that's where my natural strength was. You spend around 50 hours working on your artwork and choosing something you enjoy makes a huge difference."

How to do well in Visual Arts

"Realise that, at the end of the day, you only have so much time and a limited amount of things to do in it. Work out exactly what you have to do to achieve your goals and don't do any more."

"Pay attention in class. If you learn it the first time, it's worlds easier to remember, recall and study later on."

"Make sure you read any reading material that you are given straight away and make sure you understand it. Don't file it away to read later because you never will."

"If you're struggling for inspiration, go to a gallery or read some art books or journals."

"Have confidence in what you already know. Instead of going through and studying absolutely everything, pick out the stuff you don't know and study that."

"Work at lunchtime and in your allocated study periods. You have to be at school anyway so you may as well get some work done."

Kerry Coleman

Som Howie, Chatswood High School, Music

Stage fright has never proved to be a sticking point for clarinet player, Som Howie.

The 17-year-old, one of the 21 HSC music students chosen to perform in the Encore showcase concert at the Opera House earlier this year, says he would love to be a professional performer.

"For music my homework was just practising and it's really not work for me, it's more fun that anything else," he says.

But this could sometimes prove a difficult juggling act with his other subjects.

"I would have to practise and rehearse every day for an hour at least, two hours probably, so it did at times get challenging to balance that out with all my other subjects, but in the end it all worked out," he says.

Howie says that his father, David Howie, a pianist who works at the Conservatorium of Music where he is now studying, accompanied him on his performances.

"He's a very big motivator for me because his passion for music is the same as mine and I have him available to rehearse anytime I want to," he says.

Another big motivator was his music teacher, Gavin Staines, who organised extracurricular activities for the band, including a trip to New Zealand in 2006 and a trip to Europe in 2004, where it performed in an international music festival.

"We had to audition for it and we were the only band represented there from Australia and we ended up coming second behind Japan, so that was really pretty big," he says.

How to do well in Music

Beat stage fright by not dwelling too much on what you're about to do or overplaying your music too much just before you go on stage. "Once you start playing music, and I think anyone who is passionate about music once they are playing their piece, they settle into it very quickly."

Practise performing as often as you can - in front of classes, community groups - or any other available opportunity.

Pay attention in class and take good notes. "Then by the end of the year you'll find you have a whole book of things that you've written throughout the whole year and it's very easy to revise."

Practise regularly to make sure you know your performance piece inside out. "If you can't play it correctly at home then you won't be able to pay it correctly on stage."

Go to inspiring performances. It will help keep you motivated and help you understand the difference between playing something that is technically correct versus playing something with feeling and expression. "Music is very much like telling a story; you have to put a lot of character into it."

Leesha McKenny

Elise McMurran, Pymble Ladies' College, Hospitality

With a trip overseas, a national gymnastics competition and a heavy academic load, Elise McMurran's HSC year was busier than most people's. But the 18-year-old, who topped the state in Hospitality, says she wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Training and competing in sport at a national level while studying meant that I had a very hectic schedule," she says. "But sport was very important to me and it is important to make time for things you enjoy during the HSC. My gymnastics was an outlet and without it I don't know how I would have survived."

In addition to regular classes and studies, McMurran found time to complete 70 hours of work experience in the hospitality industry.

"It was a challenge to fit that into my schedule but it was worth it because the work placement was so enjoyable. Knowing that you are spending your time learning skills that will be directly relevant to your future career makes it much easier to justify the hours. It was great to be out there doing things rather than sitting at a desk studying."

How to do well in Hospitality

"There are a lot of topics in the Hospitality course. The best way to tackle them is to break them down into sections and write concise summary notes of each one."

"There is so much to learn, but not all of it will be in the exam. By doing past papers you can establish a pattern of the kinds of things they normally ask. Still study everything but let this pattern guide how much time you spend on different areas."

"To do well in the long-answer section of the exam you need to think outside the square. As part of your exam preparation, find examples for each topic so that you can illustrate your response with them."

"Use your work placement to consolidate and test your knowledge. As you work, think about the theory you've learnt and how it applies in different practical situations."

"The subject is much more theory-based than people think. Just because it's a VET [Vocational Education and Training] course, doesn't mean it's light on information that has to be memorised, so be ready for that."

Kerry Coleman

Daniel Chim, Sydney Boys High School, 2U Mathematics

Daniel Chim does have an advantage of sorts heading into his HSC this year. He had a practice run at a real exam under exam conditions when he sat the 2 Unit Maths paper with candidates from last year's HSC.

"You feel a bit nervous because it's the first time you're exposed to the HSC, but because I was doing 4 Unit I knew this ultimately did not affect my UAI so I was a bit more calm," he says.

Chim, 17, says this has left him feeling more relaxed heading into this year's exam - helped, no doubt, by the knowledge that he was among the subject's best performers last year.

"I came out of the exam - I knew I did all right. When I got my result, it just blew me away," he says.

Chim accelerated his math studies to help him be better prepared for the challenge of 4 Unit Maths in this year's HSC.

"For our school, when you hit year 11, if you're planning on doing 4 Unit Maths for year 12 you have the option to accelerate for 2 Unit Maths. And in my year's case, most people chose to accelerate at 2 Unit.

"It really helps for your 3 Unit work because you've covered all the basics, so in 3 Unit you can just develop on your 3 Unit knowledge, and that in turn helps with your 4 Unit Maths."

Although he is also studying English, Chemistry and Physics, Chim concedes that Maths is his favourite subject.

"Right now I'm finding that I can cope with it the best compared to my other subjects," he says. "So, generally, if you can do something well you enjoy it more."

How to do well in 2U Mathematics

Study consistently throughout the year. Don't save your run for the final stretch.

Don't underestimate the 2 Unit paper, particularly if you're studying Extension 1 as well. "Some questions can be pretty difficult. The questions towards the end of the paper are worth more and require a higher level of thinking."

Know the past paper. "That's a real indication of the level of questions that you're going to get."

Talk to family or friends who might have recently sat the exam themselves. "My sister has already been through the HSC, so I got some advice from her about how to handle the pressure."

Stay active. "I had tennis and volleyball so that was pretty good. [I] got out of the house, ran a bit, worked up a bit of a sweat."

Leesha McKenny

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home