12 tips for Year 12s

They’ve been through it all: study, exams and enrolling in their dream uni degree. We asked former Year 12 students to share their advice about maintaining wellbeing and studying smarter.

1. Assemble your crew

• ‘Organise group study sessions with your friends at a library. Being surrounded by others doing the same encourages you to get some work in, and you can reward yourself by getting lunch with your friends afterwards!’
• ‘Everyone needs support, so you need to be able to both rely on your classmates and let your classmates rely on you. I did isolated work throughout all of Year 12. Work that could have taken me 1 hour if I collaborated instead took me 3 to 5 hours.’
• ‘Make friends with all your classmates and teachers and help each other out. Treat everyone just as you’d want to be treated.’

2. Keep it balanced

• ‘Balance your studies with breaks, hobbies, and time with family and friends, because maintaining your wellbeing is just as important as doing well academically.’
• ‘Find small moments to relax – such as reading, watching a movie or going on a walk – either alone or with family and friends to allow you to relax and stay connected.’
• ‘Do it all! Just because you are in Year 12, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your life. Continue your sport and keep working because those are the things that keep you in the right mindset during the full-on time.’

3. Boost your study skills

• ‘Use past papers as soon as possible – it’s the best way to prepare for how questions are asked in the real exams and get used to working under pressure.’
• 'Organise your notes according to the syllabus dot points to ensure that no content areas are overlooked.'
• ‘Find the study method that works best for you – whether it’s mind maps, flashcards, or teaching the content to someone else, which forces you to put concepts into your own words and helps with retention.’

4. Don’t let a bad mark worry you

• ‘Don’t feel pressured into getting perfect results; just try your best because that’s the best anyone can do.’
• ‘Even if you don’t get the mark you want, continue trying on everything else. You’ll be surprised what you can achieve with consistent trust in yourself.’

5. Aim for consistency, not perfection

• ‘Pace yourself. Stay organised but also make time to look after your wellbeing. Year 12 is challenging, but if you stay steady and look after yourself, you’ll get through it more confidently than you expect.’
• ‘Consistency beats intensity every time. Don’t wait for motivation, build small habits that carry you even on the days you’re tired.’

6. Beat procrastination

• 'The biggest tip that I’ve learnt is the 2-minute rule – promise yourself you’ll only work on a task for 2 minutes. More often than not, you’ll want to continue the task.'
• ‘Just starting something immediately increases your dopamine and your brain feels like it’s being rewarded.'

7. Make a timetable for study and play

• ‘Have a set schedule for studying. This is truly important in allowing you to decrease stress and increase studying outcomes.’
• ‘Prioritise balance and maintain consistency in your efforts. Make a study plan that divides your workload into digestible portions then follow it. To prevent burnout, schedule time for friends, hobbies and exercise on an equal basis.’

8. Prioritise your mental health

• ‘Study when you can, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you prioritise your grades over your mental health, you won’t be happy, no matter the results.’
• ‘Enjoy all the little moments. Get off your phone and spend time in nature.’
• ‘Make time for yourself – you can’t give 100% when you’re at 50%.’

9. Start planning your path to university now

• ‘Start developing your university pathway early. Understanding UAC and different university pathways takes the pressure off needing a high ATAR and makes Year 12 less about assessments and more about preparing for the future.’
• ‘Start looking at options early and seek advice for the university admissions process if that is something you are interested in. Without having a holistic understanding very early, you will miss out on opportunities such as some scholarships and early offer schemes that can close quite early in the year.’

10. Keep on top of application deadlines and key dates

• ‘Always keep up to date with UAC. Check out UAC’s key dates and don’t miss out on important opportunities.’
• ‘Have a concept of the “big picture" from the beginning of the year – keep a 12-month overview calendar with important dates (eg last UAC early bird fee date, first round offer date) so that nothing gets forgotten. This will reduce the stress you feel long-term.’

11. Apply for early offers

• ‘Apply for early offers! It’s a weight off your shoulders. It helped me to focus more on studying and less on stressing about my future.’
• ‘There are countless opportunities such as scholarships, early offers and assistance schemes. I urge you to apply for them as they not only do they broaden your future prospects, but they also help alleviate the pressure of getting into university, giving you more confidence and flexibility along the way.’

12. Remember, you are more than your ATAR

• ‘Your ATAR is just a number. It does not define you. If you don't get the ATAR you expected or needed, it doesn't matter. What matters is how you move forward with how you want to live out your life. So just try your best, celebrate and enjoy the time after exams.’