1. Managing Pre-Exam Nerves
It’s normal to feel a mix of anxiety, stress, fear, or even excitement before an exam. These feelings can hit while walking to your seat or during the ten-minute wait before the timer starts.
Nerves usually come from the pressure you put on yourself. The trick isn’t to eliminate pressure entirely—it’s to shift your perspective. Let’s break it down:

1.1 Reframe the Exam
Most pressure comes from three main sources:

• Viewing the exam as a make-or-break moment for your goals
   

• Tying your self-worth to your performance
   

• Feeling the weight of others’ expectations
   

The solution? Focus on the process, not the result. The HSC isn’t the ultimate measure of your worth or future. It’s a structured test covering content in a set timeframe, but everyone learns differently, teaches differently, and has different passions.

Think of it this way:

• Universities provide multiple pathways to your dream degree—even after the HSC (e.g., bridging courses or transfers).
   

• Your ATAR doesn’t define you—no one asks about it outside school. What matters is the growth and skills you gain along the way.
   

• The HSC is just one step. From Year 12, you learn how you study, perform under pressure, and build transferable skills like public speaking—lessons that stick long after the exams.
   

Seeing the bigger picture can take the edge off stress. Remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Even if one race doesn’t go perfectly, you can recover and try again.

1.2 Avoid Cramming
I’ll be honest—I procrastinate too. But cramming right before an exam usually raises anxiety and rarely improves results. Instead, trust the effort you’ve put in throughout the year.
If you feel the need to do something, try a strategic review:

• Go through syllabus dot points carefully—they outline what will be assessed.
   

• Check them off methodically to target your review and ease anxiety.
   

Avoid last-minute note-reading. Skimming just before the exam often makes you feel unprepared for sections you didn’t cover, increasing stress rather than helping.

1.3 Steer Clear of Anxious Peers
If your friends are panicking or cramming, avoid them before the exam. Hearing things you’ve forgotten can make you doubt yourself. You know your studies better than anyone else—trust that.
 
Pro Tip: ARRIVE EARLY