How to navigate multiple exams in Year 12

Got a bunch of Year 12 exams coming up in the next few weeks and have some that are back to back? It can feel like a lot when you’ve got English on Monday, Maths on Tuesday, Economics on Wednesday, and so on. Here are 5 steps you can follow to navigate consecutive exams.

Step 1: Change your perspective and use it to your advantage

One thing you need to remember is that so many students will have a similar timetable, especially with a bunch of exams needing to be crammed into a limited timeframe.

Your classmates will be struggling through this too. Rather than worrying about the number of exams you'll have to sit back-to-back, a change in perspective will serve you much more.

What if you can increase your confidence, come up with a clear actionable plan AND ace your exams?

A simple change in mindset could be what sets you apart from your peers and your results significantly improving.

Step 2: Create to-do lists for each subject

Haven't finished writing out your study notes? Not feeling confident on a particular topic? Now's the time to clarify any of your knowledge gaps, missing study notes or practice questions you should tackle.

Don't overthink it; spend 3 minutes writing out a list for each subject.

After you've written up your lists, stick them up on a wall where you can see them. The point of having it displayed is to keep you accountable, so you don't forget about what you need to accomplish before your exam period comes around.

Step 3: Study in reverse

You now know what you need to do for all of your subjects, but it's now time to figure out which subjects to prioritise.

Typically, most students will begin studying for their first exam first. However, what ends up happening is that you'll get heaps of study done for your first exam, but end up running out of time to do the same amount of revision for your second, third, fourth (and so on) exams.

So rather than using this tactic, you should study in reverse!

Study for your last exam first, your second last exam second, your third last exam third, etc. Why?

By studying for your last exam first, when you reach your exam block, you aren't looking at the content for the first time and feeling the need to cram. You've already gone through the content and just need to do some final last minute revision.

In implementing this strategy, you'll be studying for your first exam 3-4 days before you sit it and the content will be the most fresh in your mind. Overall, you'll study more effectively for ALL of your exams.

How to study in reverse?

With your exam schedule and a calendar, look at your last exam and set aside time to study for this exam first in your schedule. Then do this for your second last exam, third and so on. Focus on 1-2 subjects maximum per day.

After you've finalised your daily study schedule, stick it up on the wall next to your to-do lists. When you get home from school each day, check your calendar for the subjects you'll be focussing on and pick items from your to-do list to work through.

Step 4: Map out your breaks and study during your exam block

Using your calendar from before, it's important to schedule breaks right after your exams and not jump straight into study immediately after you've had an exam. Do something you enjoy like listening to your favourite artist, chatting with a friend or family member or playing a quick round of your favourite game.

Give yourself enough time to re-energise so that you can get back to productive study and stay focussed.

Then, determine the subject you'll need to focus on the night before each respective exam (e.g. revise English the night before your English exam). Write out your day before the assessment to-do list (check the step below), which will highlight what you'll need to do for each subject before you sit the exam the following day.

Afterwards, put this list on the wall so you know exactly what needs to be done prior to your exam.

Step 5: Revise the night before

Now that you've studied in reverse and tackled your to-do lists, what do you do the night before your first exam?

Focus ONLY on the exam you have the next day. Make sure that you know:

• Every syllabus dot point you'll be examined on
• The common and potential exam questions you'll be asked
• How to write high quality shorts answers, responses and essays
• How you will be using your time in the exam

Here's a simple structure you can follow for the night before any exam:

1. Review your study notes and rewrite key points as dot points
2. Answer common questions from a past paper in dot point format
3. Identify areas of the content you struggled with when answering the practice questions
4. Try teaching someone (or even yourself) the content in this list of weak areas
5. Practise answering the questions you struggled with based on the list you made
6. Define how much time you will spend on each section of the exam

We recommend getting an early night's sleep and don't cram late into the night. Studies show that 90 minutes of lost sleep can equate to a 33% reduction in your ability to stay alert and focused in the daytime.