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How practise you lot get a 99+ ATAR?

Have yous wondered how to go a 99+ ATAR? In Part 5 of the ATAR & Scaling Guide, we share the insights from some of the highly successful Matrix graduates who scored an ATAR above 99.

If you are thinking, "is information technology even possible for me to score 99+ ATAR?", you are not alone.

The following list of students felt exactly the aforementioned way when they started their HSC journeying.

Read on to learn their HSC tips ranging from maintaining focus and motivation to implementing effective study routines.

  • Steven Luu – 99.95 ATAR and 100th Percentile for UMAT
  • Michelle Wu – 99.95 ATAR
  • Karen Zhang – 99.95 ATAR and Dux of Pymble Ladies' Higher
  • Steven Paredes – 99.95 ATAR and 100th Percentile in UMAT
  • Ymer Bushati – 99.90 ATAR
  • Henry Higgins – 99.85 ATAR and state rankings for English language Adv and Modernistic History
  • Emma Chen – 99.85 ATAR and country rank in Biology
  • Cherie Chen – 99.75 ATAR
  • Alpha Bi – 99.75 and 99th percentile in UMAT
  • Jacky He – 99.70 ATAR and Dux of Marist College Penshurst
  • Rohan Krishnaswamy – 99.95 and 1st in State for Chemical science
  • James Wang – 99.70 ATAR
  • Ella Yang – 99.55 ATAR
  • Kim Nguyen – 99.35 ATAR and Land rank (8th) in Maths Ext. 2
  • Matthew Winfred – 1st in the state for Maths Extension i & 100/100 in Maths Extension 2

Steven Luu: 99.95 ATAR and 100th Percentile for UMAT

100th percentile for umat

My #1 Communication

One of the biggest challenges you'll face during the HSC yr is receiving bad results. No matter how intelligent you are; you are spring to have disappointments over the course of the year. Yet, it is the decisions that yous make in reaction to these setbacks that volition dictate the outcome of your HSC feel. Students who are unable to motility on from these obstacles get bogged down by their failures, which ultimately ascertain them.

You must sympathize that the HSC is most consistency.

However, students who understand that the HSC is near consistency and learn from their mistakes take command of their goals rather than letting it screw out of their reach.

What you lot shouldn't exercise

  • Don't fail Study Notes: I believe notes should be prepared as the ultimate tool, such that a pupil can adequately answer any question in a multifariousness of means, solely using the information independent within their notes. You should also write your own notes as the procedure helps retain knowledge, even when the notes are not looked upon weeks or months afterwards. My advice would exist to complete your notes for each exam menstruum two to three weeks prior to their start.
  • Don't call up solutions are a waste of time: Test solutions were another integral part of my HSC experience. I found that exam solutions were invaluable in refining my test technique, preparation me to recognise the parts of syllabus beingness tested in each question. Too, when used in conjunction with marker guidelines, exam solutions greatly improved the conciseness and quality of my answers.

You lot can read more of students tips in Steven's post, hither.

Michelle Wu: 99.95 ATAR

My #i Communication

When I got abode from school each solar day, I would make a list of tasks I would do that afternoon, which would allow me to reach my weekly goals.

Brand a list of small tasks for each day to attain your weekly goals.

I institute that incorporating pocket-size tasks, such as press past papers, helped me break upward the monotony of constantly doing larger tasks, such as finishing notes on a chapter. It also gives you the satisfaction of checking off tasks!

What you should start doing

  • Past papers: The first study tip that I plant particularly effective is to exercise a lot of past papers. I chose to complete by papers from a diversity of schools, focusing mainly on those from the elevation 5 ranked schools.
  • English – Collect questions: For English Advanced, I collected a large puddle of past questions and fabricated sure that I could answer each of them by writing a scaffold essay. This scaffold would include: a thesis statement, topic sentences for each paragraph and a sequence of quotes that I would explore in each paragraph.
  • Maths – Take advantage of textbook questions: I attended the Holiday Accelerated Form classes for Maths Extension i at Matrix, which prepared me well for the school term ahead. Thanks to the Vacation Course school classes were a course of revision and allowed me to learn different methods/approaches to questions. I would practice the textbook questions if I felt that I did not accept a strong understanding of the topic, but most of the time I made past papers my priority.
  • Book of mistakes: I too recommend keeping a pocket-size volume of your common mistakes I had a x-page A5 booklet of notes for Maths Extension 1 that involved items like 'remember units for motion!' or 'bank check for the ambiguous case when using sin dominion'.

You can read the rest of Michelle'due south Success Story, here.

Steven Paredes: 99.95 ATAR and 100th Percentile in UMAT

My #1 communication

Take report breaks and have a weekly "no-study" dark. You might exist thinking, "oh aye, I've heard all of that earlier," but many people aren't actually 100% bothered to commit themselves to all of the above – so what is the biggest secret to HSC success?

My hugger-mugger to HSC success was staying motivated past having a clear future goals and aspirations.

Self-motivation! Y'all should ask yourself, why are you doing the HSC? What motivates you to become to schoolhouse? What are your futurity goals and aspirations?

What you should start doing

    • Plan: Plan your report finer.
    • Finish wasting time: Don't Procrastinate! Space out your exam grooming throughout the term.
    • Exist consistent: Study for at least four hours a day.

Read more of Seven'south tips in his post, here.

Karen Zhang: 99.95 ATAR and Dux of Pymble Ladies' College

My #1 Advice

Because of my duties as Helm of Community Service and my preparation for the Oxford University archway process, I was particularly enlightened of my time constraints, and so I did what I would recommend to each Year 12 pupil: I planned early.

Develop your study plan early. It should start in Yr 11, non Year 12.

Through Matrix's generous Scholarship program, I accelerated most of my school subjects, then during Twelvemonth 12 I was just attending Trial and HSC Training courses, and mayhap the odd Mathematics Extension 2 class to consolidate a difficult topic.

What you should start doing

  • Teach others: Yous've heard information technology all before, but the best manner to learn is indisputably in teaching others. Too every bit consolidating content, you acquire to explain concepts in a clearer manner, and are exposed to dissimilar approaches to a question.
  • English language – Draft Essays: Make certain you continually hand in draft essays to your school instructor or Matrix Teacher as they best sympathise your school'due south assessment criteria, and are therefore in a position to give you the about constructive and relative feedback. Towards the HSC, have someone who has marked the HSC previously (such equally Matrix teachers) to assistance y'all further perfect your essays.
  • Chemical science – Develop Syllabus Expertise: Know the Syllabus! Make certain you continually paw in typhoon essays to your school teacher or Matrix Teacher every bit they best sympathise your schoolhouse's assessment criteria, and are therefore in a position to requite you the most constructive and relative feedback. Towards the HSC, have someone who has marked the HSC previously (such equally Matrix teachers) to assistance you further perfect your essays.

More of Karen'due south tips for achieving a 99.95 ATAR can be found, here.

Rohan Krishnaswamy: 99.95 and 1st in Chemistry

My #1 Advice

Sleep is 1 of the things nearly HSC students fail to recognise the importance of. Likewise often I hear about students who've stayed up until three am studying for their extension 2 test the next twenty-four hours.

Get acceptable rest the nighttime before the exam day.

No sleep means that non only are y'all going to be tired for the test, merely too your mental capacity and power to recall volition also be reduced. All in all, resulting in a test result that is much less than y'all should take got.

What you should start doing

  • Use your holidays: I was always able to finish my Chemistry and Physics theory during the Matrix Holiday Accelerated Courses, assuasive me to dedicate more time towards Maths and English during the term.
  • Know your stuff: If you want to do well in Chemical science or Physics, you really need to know your facts and provide detail – particularly when yous get slapped with a 6-7 marking question (for example the soap or Cfc question in the 2016 HSC Chemical science exam paper).
  • Learn the item: Adding vast amounts of detail really help to certify the capability of your answer to get the marks and a lot of times impresses the marker. I remember even for eutrophication, I fabricated certain that I even knew an example of a fish that dies in hypoxic environments (European bother). Your Matrix teachers will really help with these, especially if you accept Louise or Matt!

Y'all can read the rest of Rohan's hacks, here.

Ymer Bushati: 99.90 ATAR

Ymer's ATAR hacks

My #1 Advice

The largest problem that I faced throughout my preliminary years was procrastination on my phone or reckoner, which severely detracted from my study time.

Remove the biggest distraction to your written report – phone!

This was particularly bad later on periods of intensive study and I would often experience myself 'called-for out', leading to me spending even more time on my telephone or going out.

Unlike my computer, that was necessary for school and written report, my telephone didn't assist my study in any fashion, merely simply took away from it. So, I decided to get rid of it!

What you should showtime doing

Learn from your failures: A lot of the fourth dimension, even though I performed relatively well, I knew I had non performed to my potential, and this was largely due to me procrastinating away a big portion of my written report time. So, at the stop of Year 11, when I did not receive the marks I had hoped for, I resolved to better my study technique and remove procrastination for my HSC year.

  • Solve the issue by getting rid of it: My biggest sources of procrastination were YouTube, my phone and going out. To accost these, I took the following actions:
    • Procrastination blockers for my reckoner
    • Getting rid of my phone
    • Limiting social activities
  • Detect a long-term solution: So, whilst I plant ways to solve my procrastination issue, it was important for me that they weren't short-term solutions, just long-term ones that would conduct throughout my HSC year. If yous come up with a plan to overcome an consequence holding back your ATAR, stick to information technology.

If you need more advice on beating procrastination, read more of Ymer's success secrets, here.

Henry Higgins: 99.85 ATAR and state rankings for English Adv and Modern History

HSC State Rankings

My #one Communication

Nobody I've come up beyond sits downwards for the first time after reading a literary text and transcribes a xx/20 essay.

Take a articulate agreement of the process leading to writing your final essay.

For me, the process of drafting was essential to crafting an essay that I was confident would score highly. I recall the process of drafting itself has a few aspects to it.

What yous should start doing

  • Get feedback: Firstly, show it to your teacher! Your teacher is by far the most of import asset you have during the HSC and i that you should make the most of. Do not feel every bit if yous are a nuisance if you ask for assist. For me, it got to the point that my teacher would jovially remark, "oh not again, Higgins!"
  • Read thework of your successful peers: Reading the work of quondam successful students Subsequently y'all have already written your ain analysis. I want to stress the importance of writing essays on your own outset. I strongly believe that if you read the work of one-time students beforehand it will negatively taint your work. Past extension, reading the work of literary critics tin can also be useful to help sharpen and add sophistication to your analysis.
  • Holistic preparation: I also believe that the idea of training extends further than merely writing study notes. It involves preparing all aspects of your life. For instance, getting to slumber by 9:30pm and then you have adequate sleep falls into the notion of existence 'prepared'. Therefore, developing a routine is crucial, yet ensure it allows for some flexibility.

You can notice more of Henry's tips, here.

Emma Chen – 99.85 ATAR and state rank in Biology

My #1 Advice

It's crucial that you take a thorough and complete understanding of the Preliminary (Yr xi) content. Information technology is assumed knowledge for the HSC grade and without a solid foundation, information technology is much harder to grasp new concepts in the HSC.

Particularly in the Mathematics and Science subjects, the HSC syllabus volition get into more depth virtually the ideas learnt in the Preliminary course, so information technology's essential to have basic and prerequisite knowledge in order to maximise your understanding in Year 12.

Take Year 11 courses seriously. If y'all don't, yous volition be putting in actress effort in Year 12 to fill in that knowledge gap.

I found that subjects I struggled with in Year 11 were the same ones I struggled with in Yr 12, and I had to prioritise my study and then that I would be putting more than time and effort into my weakest subject. Having a better understanding of the Preliminary coursework negated the demand to put in the extra effort and made HSC a lot easier.

What you should start doing

  • Write your own report notes:  I found word processed notes to be the best because you can finish them in a shorter amount of fourth dimension and and then spend that extra time reading over them and calculation handwritten annotations. Annotations can be small-scale reminders or merely actress data you might have received after first writing your notes, but these annotations really complete your understanding of the class.
  • Get a study partner:  I found studying with just a partner was an easier style to achieve the same results. Yous tin have different study partners for each subject field but make sure they're as dedicated and motivated to study every bit yous are or they might end up being a huge lark. The all-time fourth dimension to form study pairs is after you've done some individual report, for case, subsequently reading through your study notes and completing a past paper, you might have some questions to discuss with your study partner.

Yous can read the balance of Emma's hacks, here.

Alpha Bi – 99.75 and 99th percentile in UMAT

how-alpha-bi-scored-an-atar-of-99.75

My #i Advice

I found difficulty in maintaining motivation throughout the year, and thus sticking to a study schedule was hard.

Found a study routine as early every bit possible.

I managed to cope with this by setting a study timetable early on in the yr, which I followed as all-time I could. When I constitute myself slipping, I would make up for it on the weekend. Closer to exams, however, instead of sticking to such a schedule, I made a checklist of the by test papers I needed to complete.

  • Utilize your support network: As exams are stressful, information technology is important to take a strong support network around you. Make sure you are checking up on your friends, and that you lot are communicating your worries to alleviate the weight off your chest.
  • Own your failures: Do not beat yourself up over a non-then-decent mark. Let information technology bulldoze you!

You lot tin can read more of Alpha's success secrets, hither.

Jacky He – 99.seventy ATAR and Dux of Marist College Penshurst

How I Overcame My English Barrier To Achieve 99.70 ATAR

My #1 Advice

Write your ATAR goal on a blank sheet of paper in big blocks of writing. Stick this onto a wall slightly above where you sit so that every time you lot raise your head upwardly, you can meet the wall.

Stay disciplined past reminding yourself of your goal daily.

Whenever y'all feel like yous don't desire to study or when you want to give upwards, look at the ATAR goal – you will remind yourself where yous want to go far at by the finish of HSC and you will force yourself to written report

What you lot should start doing

  • Use your holidays: A very of import affair I did that inverse my entire HSC fate is that I used my Christmas holidays very effectively. Whilst everyone is out partying and playing video games in this "Last Holiday in the HSC Year", I devoted 3 hours every solar day into revising the previous term'due south contents and studying next term's contents at Matrix Vacation Accelerated Grade. This isn't actually a lot to ask for, just after Christmas holiday is over, you realise that yous have washed nearly 100 hours more anybody else.
  • Keep clear notes: Having uncomplicated, clear, dainty looking study notes would really encourage you to look through them. Here is an example of my physics notes:

    Jacky-He-Tips

    My physics notes.

  • English language – Read: Read, read, read!!! This is the biggest tip I tin give to anyone when it comes to improving your English skills. During my early high schoolhouse years, I would railroad train myself to read 30 pages of a novel every day and mentally summarise what I had read. This allowed me to amend my reading efficiency, then that I wouldn't exist intimidated when faced with big chunks of texts during the HSC.
  • Use it or lose it: When I attended a Catholic high school, I was forced to speak English because no one in my twelvemonth spoke Chinese. Information technology was painful at the commencement because I was stammering whenever I spoke. I always needed time to think about the words I was going to use before I spoke. Over fourth dimension, having to speak English every day, my communication skills were gradually improving. Reading, writing and speaking English gradually became an instinct. This helped me significantly with HSC assessments that involved oral presentations. It also allowed me to complete my essays within the time limit without needing to think excessively almost sentence structures and grammar.

Jacky has more HSC tips here in this blog postal service.

Jacky has also written in item about his experience of coming from a not-English speaking groundwork to nail English Advanced, here.

James Wang – 99.70 ATAR (Band six & E4 in all subjects)

Blog-James-ATAR-hacks-procrastination

My #ane Communication

Having an accountable study group is almost essential for any bailiwick but I think underrated for Maths. My friends and I would share catchy questions over Facebook and piece of work together to detect solutions.

Use report groups to written report more efficiently.

Given the number of past papers, it'due south impossible for an private to do every single one of them so a study grouping where everyone contributes is the well-nigh efficient mode to run into a wide range of questions.

What you should beginning doing

  • Use study groups: It'southward the overused term that can easily be under-performing. If washed right, they can exist game changers for your whole course, not just y'all. There are a few things that every successful study grouping needs: accountable members, open and reliable communication mediums and dedication. It's very easy for study groups to fizz for a few weeks and dissolve so it is up to all members to attempt and make it work. Come with things planned to exercise/ topics to hash out when you meet. Employ Facebook or Skype equally a way to communicate outside of school and share your questions or essays. Now for some subject-specific communication:
  • English- Share essays and get feedback: Share your essays regularly and receive feedback from your report group members. Always be open to give-and-take and share your ideas for essay topics. Diverseness of thought goes a long style in English. Using resources like the Beginner'south Guide to English to complement your study process will assistance you stay on top of things, too.
  • Scientific discipline -Workshop curt answers: I think the most constructive sessions involve sitting down and doing a bunch of short answers, marker them so going through the content/ answer structure subsequently. Ensure all members take learnt the content before the meeting.

You can read more than of James' success secrets, here.

Ella Yang – 99.55 ATAR

Blog-hacks-Ella-1740x620px

My #i Advice

If I could restart year 12, I would first writing my notes before instead of trying to cram.

Beginning making your own notes as soon as possible.

This would have saved a lot more than time to complete by paper questions rather than memorise my notes, and foreclose stress from building upwards.

What you should start doing

  • Prioritise: Having a 'to-do' list that was ranked in terms of priority. This helped me to exist more organised in terms of dealing with all the things that I had to do, also equally allocating time more than efficiently.
  • Don't ignore rote learning: I technique I used [for rote learning information] was to pretend to teach a form of students while writing downward keywords and cartoon diagrams on a whiteboard, which was recommended past my biological science teacher. It was surprisingly useful. For example, when learning about the nephron (in the kidney), I drew coloured diagrams and explained the function in each specific section. By 'educational activity' a certain syllabus dot bespeak, it forces you to explain complex ideas with clarity and simplicity – which mirrors what y'all should do in short answer questions.
  • Go along a error book: In my 'mistakes volume', which was a 5 subject notebook, I had each subject area (Maths 2U, Maths 3U, Chemistry, Biology, Economics) in a different department and wrote any mistakes I had made (including from homework, cess tasks and past paper questions). Before an exam, I would revise any relevant mistakes and endeavour questions of a similar nature.

Y'all can read more of Ella'due south success secrets, in this post.

Kim Nguyen – 99.35 ATAR and 8th in the state for Maths Extension two

how kim nguyen scored an atar of 99.35

My #i Advice

I did all my homework during my free periods at schoolhouse so that after school I could launch directly into studying.

Make utilise of free periods at school to costless upwardly more than fourth dimension at dwelling.

For those who are struggling with balancing their extra-curricular activities with their academics, I recommend that you halt all extracurricular activities past a certain time and devote the rest of the mean solar day to studying.

What you should beginning doing

  • Ready goals: Before Trials, my goals were to rank in the top five for all my subjects and in the elevation two places for Mathematics. This kept me on rail and instead of taking i cess task at a time, I viewed them as stepping stones to increasing my ranking. It also lessened much of the pressure I felt as I set more than realistic goals for each assessment task.
  • Read your English texts, twice (at least!): Make sure y'all read all your English language texts at least 2 times. The second time you read information technology, I recommend using sticky notes or highlighters to annotate and analyse your text. Read all your assigned texts at least in one case before the finish of the summer holidays or at least earlier you start to study it in course.
  • Break upward tasks: Remember, interruption big tasks into smaller tasks and plan during the weekends what master tasks you want to complete throughout the week. Also, try to complete small homework earlier so that you can focus on the bigger tasks!

You can read the balance of Kim'south HSC hacks, here.

Matthew Winfred – 1st in the state for Maths Extension one & 100/100 in Maths Extension two

hacks for scoring 100/100 in extension 2 mathematics

My #1 Advice

I notice it extremely important to not but remember formulas only to as well empathize how they are derived and practical. Especially during classes, I tend to ask whatsoever lingering question to my teachers and explore slightly beyond the scope of the syllabus to gain this understanding.

Dont compromise on your understanding. Otherwise you'll need to memorise everything.

Being curious and non just accepting what is being taught until knowing it back to front is essential to long-lasting learning.

What y'all should offset doing

  • Use your resource: When studying mathematics, I start by revising any concepts learnt during grade. I then become through multiple textbooks to ensure that I have a solid fundamental understanding. The Matrix Workbooks are a great resource that really helped me in covering my nuts.
  • Teach others: The best way to test your understanding is trying to teach information technology to others and e'er questioning, "Why?".
  • Practise, exercise, practise: The but way to improve your speed and accurateness is by exposing yourself to a variety of unlike questions. During my study, I would consummate every bit many do questions and exercises as I could and impose strict time 'challenges' on myself.
  • Marking your work: Call up to actually mark your work, adhering strictly to the marking criteria given for each examination. It is really of import that you try and identify areas where your working out may be deemed inadequate, and to ensure that any marker will not be able to take marks from you for bereft reasoning in the future.

The rest of Matthew'south in-depth Maths HSC hacks are in this postal service.

Acquire how to maximise your ATAR.

Attend our Gratuitous ATAR & Scaling Seminar to learn the process of converting your ATAR goal into meaningful and relevant targets.

Larn more nearly our upcoming ATAR & Scaling Seminar.

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