HSC Biology used to be one of my least favourite subjects - I relied on memorising and rereading notes. But when I started actually to understand and apply Biology rather than rote-learning, I realised there was much more to the subject that I initially thought. And that’s when I found a passion for it, and eventually landed a Band 6!

Whilst receiving a disappointing exam result can be disheartening, it’s not the end of the road. What’s more important, is what you choose to do next.

This guide will cover common film techniques along with examples, how to integrate analysis into essays, and useful resources to help you nail your writing.

Extension 1 Maths for me was, in one word, the most satisfying subject I took. Satisfying not only when I saw the E4 (Band 6) and 99.10 ATAR on results day, but also satisfying throughout the whole process of studying for and taking the exam.

After many hours slaving away at essays for a variety of modules,  I completely understand how difficult and time-consuming HSC English essay writing can be. In this blog post, I will endeavour to unpack go-to structures, answer frequently asked questions and advise on how to capture your unique voice – which I believe is an essential part of a Band 6 essay.

The advice I had always been given was, “make a schedule,” “take care of your health,” and “don’t get burnt out” but all this seemed like vague, intangible, fantasies amidst the nightmare of juggling extra-curricular music, sports, leadership, academic pressure, lack of motivation, and procrastination. What I wanted was real, pragmatic, and realistic advice, which was surprisingly hard to find. I had to learn it all the hard way.

So here’s my honest advice, coming from someone who didn’t have it all together, but still managed to achieve a 99.50 ATAR.

Long story short, Legal Studies doesn’t have to be daunting -  for me, some simple adjustment to my study habits helped me (a) find my passion for Legal Studies and(b)  score a 95/100 in my HSC exam. 

Today, I’m going to share 7 of these tips to help ace the subject as well!

Analysing poetry can feel a bit like a black box - where do you start, how are poems different to other text types, what does a 20/20 analyses look like?

Hello! My name is Rowena. I completed my HSC just over a year ago. After studying 4 units of English, ranking 5^th in NSW in English Extension 2, and tutoring students in English every week…I’d say I’ve got a pretty good grasp on analysing poetry.