Year 12 study planner: Dates and times for every exam in the HSC, VCE, QCE and SACE
Year 12 exams are looming and it’s time to start planning – here’s the full list of exam dates and times for every subject.
The pressure is starting to heat up for Australia’s year 12 students with the release of exam timetables across the nation.
While senior students are currently in the middle of their term 3 studies, it will not be long until they sit their final examinations with Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia all commencing their exam period in late October.
Find all your state’s year 12 exam times below
HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS
Scarlett Emmerson – year 12 student at St John’s Grammar School in Adelaide
For year 12 student Scarlett Emmerson, the looming exams are something she feels ready to take in her stride.
While she will only complete one exam for psychology this year, Ms Emmerson has had plenty of experience with high-pressure assessments, having completed year 12 Japanese last year.
“Throughout high school we do heaps of practice exams for most subjects so it just makes me feel more confident for (my) psychology exam because I know what I am walking into,” the 17-year-old said.
“I know what’s going to happen; what the teachers are going to say, how we’re going to sit (and) it just kind of relieves a little bit of pressure.”
When it comes to revision, handwritten flashcards will be the secret to her success as she swears by the study method.
“(Flashcards) can be so annoying to write up but when you write them up it’s going into your head,” the St John’s Grammar School student and school captain said.
“It really helped me with Japanese last year so I am going to do that for psychology this year as well.”
Overall, Ms Emmerson said she feels “confident” heading into exam season but admitted she is feeling “quite sad” to be finishing her secondary school journey.
“I am feeling sentimental and emotional to leave St John’s because it’s been a big part of my life and all of my school friends and teachers are here, so I think I am feeling quite sad to be leaving,” Ms Emmerson said.
“(But) I am feeling very excited to move on from school and go into university and the next part of my life.”
Advice from Associate Professor Steven Lewis, Australian Catholic University
As spring arrives, students across Australia are busily preparing for their final exams. October and November are indeed testing times.
But with exams still about eight weeks away, now is the time to put practices in place to avoid the pressures and pitfalls. You will feel mixed emotions, but a few intentional habits can make a big difference.
First, make sure you are prepared. You will have likely heard the expression, ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’, and effective preparation is key. Make a calendar of your upcoming assignments and assessments so you know when key tasks are due. Seek out past exams to familiarise yourself with what to expect. Don’t let yourself be caught off-guard, as this will likely increase your anxiety.
Second, set aside time for rest and recuperation. Just as you plan to study, you equally must plan to relax. Ensure your schedule includes plenty of mental downtime for you to do what you enjoy. It might be playing sports or socialising with friends or catching up on sleep.
Research shows you will be much more attentive, engaged and ready to learn if you have allowed yourself ample exercise and rest.
Third, remain connected with your friends, families and peers. A great way to avoid becoming overwhelmed and isolated is to talk with others and let them know how you are feeling. If things are starting to feel hard, let a trusted person know early. It is natural to feel some stress around exams but reach out for help – and help others – if you notice that stress is becoming overwhelming.
Fourth, remember that year 12 exams are the gateway to many post-school opportunities, like university, apprenticeships and work. Research your preferred outcomes (eg review university websites for entrance requirements) but remember that many roads lead to that destination. There are always alternative ways into your dream course or field of study.
Finally, and perhaps most of all, try to avoid thinking there is only one right path after school. Success looks different to different people, and it is about finding the right path for you at this point in time. Remember that you can always change your mind about where you’re going or how you will get there.
I wish our year 12s all the best at this exciting time!
Advice from Selina Samuels – veteran educator and former year 12 exam marker
I have always told my students that their trial or mock exams are the perfect opportunity to make mistakes … as long as they don’t make the same ones again! It is the time for students to work out what they don’t know as well as consolidate what they do.
I would say that this period of the final year can feel as stressful if not more stressful than the final exams – when at least students have the end of school in sight, the prospect of the summer holidays and the start of their next adventure. Being told that the final exams will actually feel easier can be very comforting.
It is important for students to realise that while they may feel under a great deal of pressure, there is still plenty of time to bed down all their knowledge and hone their skills.
Now, they need to shift into exam practice mode. They should write every essay and do every practice exam paper to time, and by hand if that is the way they are going to be examined.
They need to build their stamina as much as their ability to answer questions. They should use all their available resources; the feedback from teachers and colleagues can be invaluable.
I tell students not to sit on a pile of practice papers and submit them at the last minute – make sure they are getting feedback along the way. They are no longer competing with their school friends but instead competing together against all the other schools, so study groups can be really valuable at this point. Teaching concepts and information to one another is a great way to embed knowledge and save time.
I recommend that students keep a short list for each subject of what key areas they need to be working on at any time, and update them as they hone their skills. It is human nature to prefer to practice what comes easily; training themselves to consult their list of focus areas rather than revert to what feels comfortable will keep them honest.
And, perhaps most important of all, students need to see this as just a period in their lives that will pass. They should continue to exercise, socialise, sleep and contribute to the family. No one ever failed their final exams because they continued to unpack the dishwasher!
