The very words “HSC maths exam” can strike fear into the hearts of even the bravest student. But you don’t have to let it intimidate you.
Preparing for the HSC exam doesn’t have to be scary. Check out these great tips on how to study and develop confidence before going in to take the exam.
Practice, Practice, Practice
What’s the best way to prepare for the HSC maths exam? Do practice questions. The more questions you answer, the faster you will be able to arrive at the correct conclusion.
Remember to not only practice the questions but also practice how to answer them. For example, set a timer and give yourself a set amount of time to finish a certain number of questions. This will help you get used to the exam format.
It’s better to skip a question and come back to it if you have time rather than get hung up on one at the beginning and never touch the ones at the end.
Practice a Variety of Questions
As a side note here, don’t get all your practice questions from the same place. There’s no way to know what style of questions will be present on this year’s exam. But if you practice a wide variety of questions beforehand, you’ll be prepared for anything!
Look through several different textbooks, look at old official papers, independent papers, and trial papers from other schools. These are all great sources of these all-important questions.
When to Start Practicing
This might sound like overkill, but we recommend beginning to complete practice questions on a regular basis at least 6 months before the exam. This will give you plenty of time to fully grasp the information and prepare for the exam.
What if you haven’t covered the material in class yet for the practice questions you pull? This is likely to happen when you start studying so early.
Don’t worry about it, just set those ones aside and come back to them after your teacher has explained the relevant concept.
Take Creative Notes
There aren’t necessarily lists of information that you need to jot down in maths class. However, taking notes is still a helpful exercise.
Try making mind maps that help you understand how different concepts fit together. This deeper understanding will make it easier to answer any type of question, even one that you might never have seen before.
Plus, the very act of creating the notes is an excellent memory tool. Figuring out how to organise the material helps you understand it better and remember it more easily.
Rock That Exam!
There you have it! By simply following these tips you can grow your confidence and properly prepare yourself for the HSC exam.
The exam is a big deal, don’t get us wrong. But you are a big deal too. With a little dedication and hard work, you don’t have to cringe in fear or feel nervous about this upcoming challenge.
