Get a head start on Years 11 and 12 with our free webinar

Liz gives every senior class the same message. Year 12 is “a game and you just need to learn how to play it.” In our on-demand webinar, she shows you how.

Liz, a former NSW humanities teacher, shares the habits that helped her own senior classes get the most out of their final years. Rachel, a former Queensland science teacher, joins her to answer student questions. It’s for anyone starting Year 11 or 12 next year, in any state. It’s free to watch below.

What’s in the webinar

• A walkthrough of Atomi, from videos and quizzes to feedback and revision sessions
• Tools from the Study Skills course, like a SMART goals worksheet and a Cornell notes template
• Answers to student questions, like whether to learn content before or after class

Five takeaways

1. Test yourself instead of rereading

Rereading your notes feels productive, but it isn’t a great way to remember things. Answering questions makes you recall what you know, and that’s the skill your exams test.

Liz saw this with her Legal Studies class. In their first Year 11 exam, the top multiple-choice mark was 11 out of 20. So they did five to ten multiple-choice questions at the start of almost every lesson. Two years later, the lowest mark in the class was 17 out of 20.

2. Little and often beats cramming

Senior exams cover two years of content, so cramming won’t hold up. Liz suggests ten minutes on three subjects each afternoon, using topics you covered in class that day. Then build up to longer sessions. As she puts it, “something is better than nothing.”

3. Act on your feedback

Feedback only helps if you change something. Answer the same way every time and you’ll get the same mark. So read what your teacher or Atomi tells you, and adjust. Screenshot anything that doesn’t make sense and ask about it in class.

4. Practise to time

Your exams are timed, so your practice should be too. When you create a revision session in Atomi, always turn on the time limit. It trains you to answer quickly and trust your gut on multiple choice.

5. Look after yourself

Liz pointed to research linking wellbeing and better marks. So get outside, move your body and take breaks from the screen. It’s part of doing well. For more ideas, read our tips on reducing exam stress.

Try it tonight

Pick a topic from class today and test yourself for ten minutes. Then watch the full webinar for the rest of Liz’s advice.