REVEALED: 2023 high-achievers top ATAR tips
With the external exams kicking off today, we spoke to some of Queensland’s top-achievers from 2023 on their techniques, study tips and advice for this year’s cohort.
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With the 2024 external exams kicking off today, we spoke to some of Queensland’s top-achievers from last year on their techniques, study tips and advice for this year’s cohort.
From how the 2023 student’s felt before the exam, to what ATAR they received and how, to overcoming stress and exam anxiety, we’ve covered everything your child needs to know ahead of their external exams.
“Consistency builds habits, and habits make results”
2023 Brisbane State High School Graduate Joshua Ryu
Distinguished Academic Achiever; Outstanding Academic Achiever recipient
ATAR: 99.80
How did you feel before your external exams?
“I remember that I had prepared quite a lot leading up to the external exams, but still felt strangely underprepared before going into the exam room each time.
“In hindsight, I think I was just quite nervous, but I’m glad I focused on keeping mentally and physically fit so that I was in the best condition possible.
“So naturally, as with most students, I was definitely stressed throughout the exam period, yeah, because I wanted to achieve the best results possible, and I knew that the final exams could potentially narrow down on what I would be eligible to study.”
What were your study techniques?
“There were a few studying techniques or strategies I used, but I guess one of the more important ones was time blocking.
“So essentially, as you plan out the day, you divide the day into blocks of time, and each block is dedicated to a specific subject or activity. And I thought it was good because actually writing down what to do during the day gives you more accountability for how you spend time each day.
“The main study technique I recommend is like using memory and verbal tricks to remember difficult concepts. So for example, it’s quite hilarious looking back, but I remember using dabbing as a way to distinguish between, like, the different sugar molecules in chemistry.”
What were some helpful resources you used?
“Leading up to the actual exams, it was getting increasingly important to make sure that I was focusing on potential exam questions and actually hitting the marking criteria across the subjects.
“So I was making sure to practice using the past, past external papers on QCAA. I also thought YouTube was quite good to find any concepts that I couldn’t understand by reading off a textbook or just using a study guide.
“If I was to recommend one, I thought the Oxford study buddy was great for the science subjects that I had.”
How did you avoid study fatigue?
“I’d be sitting down all day. So, you know during my breaks I’d go for a walk, listen to a good song, chat with my friends.
“I think that was really good. I think just being active in my downtime, getting good rest, making sure I was talking to family and friends,
What are some general tips you’d give to Year 12’s about to go into exams?
“Number one would be, don’t overthink during the exam and don’t overthink about what you did after each exam because it can create more stress that might negatively affect your performance in the other exams.
“Secondly, for the year twelves, I’m sure it must be a tough time, but I think a message I have for them is to not forget that the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than you think and everything will be done in a blink of an eye.”
“I would keep fuelling my interests”
2023 Brisbane Girls Grammar School Graduate Tung-Hi Ma
Distinguished Academic Achiever recipient
ATAR: 99.75
How did you feel before your external exams?
“Obviously, there was a lot of anticipation leading up to the external exams, because it was seen as this big event.
“It kind of felt like you were standing on the edge of a cliff and knowing that you had to jump, but also trusting that you had built a parachute strong enough to carry you down.
“You were not really sure how it was going to carry out. Personally for me, and all of my friends, we were all quite scared of it.”
What were your study techniques?
“I used a variety of study techniques, and I did some research online, but I think my main study technique that worked for me the best was using group study sessions.
“What we do is each take on the role of being like the teacher and teach each other different concepts. We would also give each other different personas. So for example, one person could be like a TED Talk speaker, or like the other person could be like a TV show host, and then we just listen to each other explain the topics. I also experimented with the pomodoro timer which was also pretty good and I still use that in uni.”
What were some helpful resources you used?
“There is so many resources online, and I think a lot of them are very helpful. But also reflecting on your past work is probably one of the most important things to do, because no matter how many past exam papers or books that you read through, if you don’t actually reflect on what you’re learning, it can sometimes be a little bit of a waste of time and feel a bit like monotonous.”
How did you avoid study fatigue?
“All students would agree that year 12 is quite a stressful time and stress is almost unavoidable when you’re juggling so much at once.
“But how I tried to avoid being burnt out from this stress was to just come back to things that I really enjoyed.
“In high school I was really passionate about doing community service. So I would keep visiting residents at the aged care home I volunteered at, even during externals time, and participate in different community service projects.
“Apart from that, I would keep fuelling my interest. So for example, I went rock climbing with my sister almost every weekend, and would take dance lessons on Sunday as well which really helped.”
“Sometimes doing less is actually doing more”
2023 St Peter’s Lutheran College Graduate Toby Heytman
Distinguished Academic Achiever recipient
ATAR: 99.85
How did you feel before your external exams?
“So initially, when the study period first started, I felt extremely overwhelmed, like it was kind of the end of the world and that I needed to study 15 hours a day, otherwise I’m going to do horribly in all my exams.
“But as the period before the exams wore on and I started to really get into doing the study, I started to realise that that’s not really the right way to look at it. You can’t forget about everything else that’s going on.”
What were your study techniques?
“I started to actually sort of split up study a lot more. And there was one or two days where I was really over it, and I was really sick of studying, so I took a day off.
“And I think actually, being honest with yourself, you can really notice that sometimes doing less is actually doing more, because you’re giving yourself time to recover and rejuvenate mental energy to actually keep going.
“A lot of the kind of study I did was doing bulk pieces of study for a couple of hours at a time to really just get into the kind of mindset for an exam where you have to focus for two hours.
“Then I would have an applied big break and I think that translated quite well into the exams.”
What were some helpful resources you used?
“One of the things that I found useful was actually going on the QCAA website and looking at exactly what they wanted for each subject.
“Because you learn so much content, and sometimes it’s hard to really think, well, what actually are they going to test. So then actually reading through the syllabus and saying ‘well I need to do this, this and this’ kind of guided me towards knowing what I needed to study.
“I would say 100 per cent practice exams were the best thing that I did. I think every person I talk to that asks, especially for maths, who ask ‘what’s the best resource?’ And I say practice exams.”
How did you avoid study fatigue?
“You still have to make time to do something active, hobbies you enjoy, as long as you’re putting in the hard work.
“For me, one of the main things was going to the gym or playing tennis or playing golf or doing something physical.
“I think the best thing is just do something that makes you happy and also something that you feel like you can put some kind of brain out or just take your mind off studying.”
What are some general tips you’d give to Year 12’s about to go into exams?
“I guess my main advice would be, even though it’s a pain in the short run – I don’t know anyone that’s regretted putting in the effort.
“People have different motivations, but you really need to find something that sticks with you.
“So whether or not that’s a certain goal, whether it’s getting into a degree, whether or not it’s getting a scholarship, I think just finding something that resonates with you is the best way.”
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