Hey guys,
Im graduating this year, and Im having lots of trouble studying for the HSC. I am very demotivated and I find myself unable to study. I think its due to procrastination or the fact that Im still unsure of what to do in uni (basically I have no goals to study towards).
I do the bare minimum, that being homework + Tutor homework.
I do English Advanced, Mathematics Ext 2, Chemistry and Economics, and for my school, its one of the top 10 in terms of HSC ranking (I will not state my school, as I am quite embarrassed about this situation). By the way, I go to tutoring for all four subjects.
Ill put the questions below, ask me some that you think are necessary too:
Basically...
How do I start studying?
By reducing procrastination? I understand that setting goals is one way, but I has never seemed to work for me. Maybe im not setting them correctly?
How do I motivate myself?
Is it through finding a uni course? Im thinking Engineering, but it's not something I'm passionate towards and 100% sure on.
Im bad at English (I put a lot of effort a few times and still got bad marks, resulting in a confidence loss) and Im afraid it will drag down my ATAR. I feel like that maybe causing me to subconsciously give up on studying. In addition, I feel like I'm already behind others, causing a confidence loss.
How should I study?
I understand that homework isn't enough to get above 90 for my ATAR, and I need some guidance on that.
More importantly, why do I find it hard to study? Why am I like this??
Thanks for taking the time to read my post, I really appreciate it.
Hey, darthone!
I'll just add a few things to all the amazing advice that Jamon's already suggested
How do you start studying?I actually wasn't a huge fan of study timetables (*gasps all around*) because I found them to be really restrictive and more than often I would make them and stick to them for at most a fortnight before deciding to ditch them. What you could also try is making checklists for yourself to get motivated. In my HSC, I would put ten things on that list, starting with my "non-negotiables" like work shifts, family gatherings for the weekend etc. and then filling up the rest of it with miscellaneous study commitments. This ranged from getting homework for the week done for my subjects, to watching revision videos on Youtube for content I was struggling with. I would also have an extension activity if I could for the week and if I got it done, would give myself a reward like being able to go out the following weekend or to read a book I liked
If you find that study timetables help in getting you into routine, fantastic! This is just another alternative worth considering if you're aiming for self-discipline and prioritisation based on your particular week ahead
How do I motivate myself?I mentioned briefly how I would reward myself and this also applies to how I would punish myself too if I didn't get what I wanted done for the week. I think my worst punishment was no WiFi for a weekend and I remember this being really bad because one of my major works were due the following Tuesday so I felt the consequences heavy there
Of course you don't have to be as intense as this; even something as small as rewarding yourself with 2 hours of non-study fun like watching Netflix is worth investing in as a goal to work towards. While, for many, having a university course in mind might be what motivates them, I certainly didn't have an idea at all what I wanted to do post-HSC and instead focused on smaller goals, getting by day by day and coming to realise where my passions and strengths truly resided over time. That might be the case for you too so it's entirely up to you!
We also have a
HSC Journey Journal here on the forums which you can create your own space for sharing your thoughts and study life. I find that logging my progress also helps me feel more motivated to get things done!
As for English more specifically,
this guide and
this guide both cover effective study approaches and mindsets for conquering the subject
How should you study?Will 100% recommend all the guides Jamon has already posted but this one in particular because studying is such a diverse practice and should be tailored around your individual needs and interests. One thing that really helped me was learning the content and then teaching it to someone else as a way of studying. It was much easier to identify gaps in my knowledge and to figure out what I needed to revise further on. My younger sister basically learnt the entire SAC syllabus and content off of me by the end of my HSC! Find someone to study with and see if this is something that might work for you
Why do you find it so hard to study?I'll echo Jamon's words here as well because studying isn't always something that clicks with everyone instantly. I loved, and still love, studying so it was almost second nature for me to do all of these things. That doesn't mean I haven't faced demotivation and procrastination because they've both manifested in my high school and university lives at some point. What matters is that you've identified them and are now seeking ways to overcome them
It's all about working hard, asking questions and learning more about yourself as a student, and as a person, at the end of the day
If you have any further questions regarding subject content, do ask heaps here on the forums! We're here to help and look forward to hearing more about your HSC journey!
Angelina