Exam preparation

Exams reward what you can do under time pressure, not just what you've read. That means the best preparation looks a lot like the exam itself: recalling, applying and writing answers. This guide covers effective revision methods, using past papers, the days before exams and what to do in the exam room.

This guide is general information written in our own words, based on the official sources listed at the end. ATAR rules, scaling, dates and course requirements differ between states and change from year to year, so always check with your admissions centre, institution and school. We don't predict ATARs, publish cut-offs or recommend particular schools, tutors or courses.

Know what you're preparing for

Start by understanding each exam: its length, format, sections, types of questions and how marks are allocated. Your teachers, the syllabus or study design and your state curriculum authority's website are the best sources. Make a list of topics for each subject and rate your confidence in each.

Active recall

Active recall means retrieving information from memory, rather than just looking at it. Examples include:

• closing your notes and writing down everything you remember about a topic;
• answering practice questions;
• using flashcards and testing yourself;
• explaining a concept aloud, as if teaching someone.

It feels harder than rereading, and that effort is part of why it helps.

Spaced practice

Revisit topics several times, spread over days and weeks, rather than cramming. Our study timetable guide explains how to build spaced review into your week.

Mix it up

Mixing different types of problems or topics in a session (interleaving) can help you learn to choose the right approach, which is what exams demand. This is especially useful for maths and sciences.

Past papers

Past exam papers are one of the most valuable revision tools. Use them in stages:

1. Learn: work through questions untimed, with notes if needed, to understand what's being asked.
2. Practise: answer questions without notes, then check against marking guidelines or sample answers.
3. Simulate: complete full papers under timed, exam-like conditions.

Look at marking guidelines and examiner reports where available; they show what markers reward. Ask your teacher to look over practice answers.

Summary notes

Condensing your notes into summaries, mind maps or formula sheets helps you organise knowledge. Keep them concise, and use them for active recall by covering parts and testing yourself.

Essay subjects

For essay-based subjects, practise planning responses to past prompts under time limits. Prepare flexible evidence, quotes and examples you can adapt, rather than memorising whole essays. Practise writing full responses by hand at exam speed if exams are handwritten.

Look after yourself

ReachOut's advice for exam time includes getting a good night's sleep, eating well, exercising and making time for things you enjoy. Avoid all-nighters; sleep helps consolidate memory. See our sleep and study guide.

The day before

• Check the exam time, location and rules.
• Prepare your equipment: pens, pencils, approved calculator, ID and anything else permitted.
• Do light review of summary notes, rather than learning new material.
• Get a good night's sleep.

ReachOut's exam checklist includes preparing what you need in advance and getting a good night's sleep.

The morning of

Eat breakfast, drink water, arrive early and avoid last-minute panicking with friends if it unsettles you. Some students find a few calming breaths helpful before going in.

In the exam room

• Read the instructions carefully.
• Use reading time to plan which questions to tackle first.
• Allocate your time according to marks.
• If you get stuck, move on and come back later.
• If you feel overwhelmed, pause and breathe. ReachOut suggests reminding yourself of your preparation and using calming breathing.
• Leave time to check your answers.

After each exam

Avoid long post-mortems with friends. Note anything to remember for the next exam, then turn your attention to the next one. Have a short break before resuming study.

If something goes wrong

If you're ill, have an accident or face serious circumstances that affect an exam, talk to your school straight away. Each state has a process for students whose exam performance is affected by illness or misadventure, and there are strict deadlines. Your school can explain the process.

Handwriting stamina

If your exams are handwritten, practise writing full answers by hand under timed conditions. Many students now type most of their work and find their hand tires in long exams. Regular handwritten practice builds stamina and speed, and helps you plan how much you can write in the time allowed.

Working with feedback

Feedback from teachers on practice answers is valuable. Keep a list of recurring mistakes, such as misreading questions, missing units or running out of time, and work on them deliberately. Re-attempting questions after feedback helps lock in improvements.

Equipment and rules

Check which calculators, dictionaries or materials are allowed in each exam, and make sure approved calculators have fresh batteries. Read the exam rules your curriculum authority publishes; breaches can have serious consequences.

Try the study planner

Our free study planner shows how many weeks you have until your first exam, splits your weekly revision hours between your subjects and suggests what to focus on in each phase. It also includes a simple selection rank adder for after results. It runs entirely in your browser, nothing you enter is sent anywhere, and it doesn't try to predict your ATAR.

Where our information comes from

Factual statements in our guides are based on official and expert sources, including the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC), the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC), the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC), healthdirect, the Australian Government's movement guidelines and ReachOut. We link to each source at the end of the page and rewrite everything in our own words.

Rules change every year

ATAR rules, scaling, adjustment schemes, key dates and course requirements are reviewed regularly and can change from one year to the next. A rule that applied to an older sibling or a friend in another state may not apply to you. Treat our guides as a starting point, and confirm anything important with your admissions centre, your school and the institutions you're applying to.

Talk to your careers adviser

Your school's careers adviser is one of the most useful people you can talk to in Year 11 and 12. They know your state's system, current key dates, early offer schemes, access schemes and pathways, and can help you plan subjects and preferences. Book a time early, bring your questions and follow up after results.

For parents and carers

Parents and carers can help most by staying calm, keeping perspective and offering practical support: quiet study space, regular meals, encouragement to sleep and move, and help keeping track of key dates. Learning the basics of how the ATAR and selection ranks work makes it easier to support decisions without adding pressure.

Tell us what you think

We review our guides regularly against their sources. If you notice something out of date, have a question we haven't answered or spot an error, please let us know through our contact page. We read every message and correct mistakes promptly.

A quick checklist

If you remember only a few things from our guides, make them these: the ATAR is a rank, not a mark; choose subjects you enjoy and need for prerequisites; study actively and spread your revision; protect your sleep; check adjustment schemes and key dates; order preferences by what you really want; and remember there's more than one pathway to where you want to go.

Looking after yourself

Doing well in senior school isn't only about study hours. Sleep, movement, food, friends and downtime all affect how well you learn and how you feel. If stress or low mood is building, talk to someone you trust, your school counsellor or your GP. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are available 24/7, and in an emergency call 000.

Key points

• Revise actively: recall, practise and test yourself.
• Use past papers in stages, finishing with timed practice.
• Prepare equipment and sleep well before exams.
• In the exam, plan, manage time and move on if stuck.