Year 11 preliminary exams: Your guide on how to prepare

Year 11 preliminary exams, also known as prelims are a critical milestone in your high school journey. They are a benchmark for measuring your academic progress, and they give an early indication of how well you will perform in HSC, VCE, QCE and SACE exams.

It’s important that you properly prepare for your Year 11 exams, not least because it will help you learn good study habits that will serve you well later.

Here, find some practical tips on how to prepare for the Year 11 preliminary exams.

Update your study notes

The first step in preparing for your Year 11 exams is to update your study notes. Your study notes are an essential tool for revision, as they provide a quick reference to the key concepts you’ve learned in class.

Begin by reviewing your notes from each subject and make sure they’re up to date and complete. Borrow a friend’s notes to fill in any classes you missed. Check for any gaps in your understanding of the material and fill them in by reading your textbook or asking your teacher for clarification.

Make sure your notes are organised and easy to read. This will make it easier to revise when preliminary exams approach.

Create a study plan

Once you’ve updated your study notes, you can create a study plan. A study plan will help you organise your study time and make sure you cover all the material before the exams.

Allocate enough time for each subject, remembering that you may need to spend more time on certain subjects.

Set aside specific times each day for studying and for breaks. Try studying in small, manageable chunks, such as 30-minute or one-hour sessions. This will help you stay focused and avoid procrastination.

Practise past Year 11 exams

Taking past exams is an effective way to prepare for your Year 11 preliminary exams. Past papers will give you an idea of the format of the exam, the types of questions that are asked, and the level of difficulty. You can find past papers online, or your teacher might have copies.

When doing past Year 11 exams, you should simulate exam conditions and time yourself, to help build your exam-taking skills. As you mark your paper, look up the answers to anything you got wrong or didn’t know.

Ask for help

If you are struggling with a particular subject, don't hesitate to seek help. Your teacher is a valuable resource and can provide extra support if needed. You can also consider getting a tutor for backup where you really need it, or starting a study group with classmates before Year 11 exams.

Don't wait until it's too late to seek help – the earlier you tackle any problems, the better your chances of success.

Take care of yourself

Preparing for Year 11 prelims can be stressful, so it is important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep stress levels down and stay focused.

Take breaks when you need to, and get away from your desk to do activities you enjoy to help you relax – think sports, socialising, cooking and art. If you’re dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety, you might want to try yoga, deep breathing or meditation.

Try a growth mindset

A growth mindset is a belief that skills and abilities can be developed through hard work, a desire to improve and a willingness to embrace challenges. A growth mindset will help you see failure as an opportunity to learn and help you be more open to feedback and criticism.

This will help you see prelims as a challenge that gives you an opportunity to learn and grow. Don't let a poor result discourage you – use it as an opportunity to identify areas where you need to improve and work on them.

As you see, there’s nothing complex or intimidating about preparing for Year 11 exams.

Remember that your performance in prelims is not a reflection of your worth as a student or as a person. Stay motivated, focus on your goals and believe in yourself. And good luck.