Top Study Secrets

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What will you discover in this book?

This book is a summary of the study methods and techniques I used when I did my HSC. I had wonderful teachers at school, but somehow the study methods I was taught (like summarising the text book, and doing study timetables) didn't work for me, at all! So I worked out my own study techniques, and since they worked for me, I just kept doing and refining them.

After I finished school, a friend who knew I had achieved a UAI (as the ATAR was called then) of 99.90, asked if I would help his sister, who he thought had more potential than her exam marks seemed to show. I wasn't sure that I had much to contribute, as it had been a few years since I had done my HSC and I didn't remember many of the specific details of subjects that I knew I needed for my HSC exams. But I sat down with her, and just looked at study skills and techniques, and she went from the middle of her class to near the top of many of her classes! Then I was surprised, not at her talent, but at how much I had taken study technique for granted, and how much it really affected exam results! So because of her, I did a 'brain-dump' and wrote down everything I did when I studied, and this is now my book.

You will discover:

  • How to study EVERY subject in 1 to 3 days (which is on average the time you have between HSC exams to review your entire year's work for EACH subject!!)
  • How to take notes in class so that studying for exams is quicker while covering everything you need to know;
  • What an "anchor point" is, why having one saves a lot of study time just before an exam, and how to choose your "anchor point" for each subject;
  • What the best use of your homework time is;
  • The most effective things to do JUST before the exams;
  • How to balance your study between subjects, and between topics in a subject just before an exam;
  • How to study for multiple choice, short answer question, extended responses and essay sections of the exam;
  • How to learn definitions, causes, consequences and other lists so you don't forget any points or get any mind blanks in an exam;
  • What mulling is and why you should use it to improve memory retention;
  • The quicker, more efficient alternative to summarising a textbook, while covering all the content you need to know;
  • How to maximise your marks in the exam itself;
  • What to do when you first see the exam paper;
  • If you should you complete the exam sections in any particular order;
  • Tips for dealing with different types of questions in an exam, including multiple choice, short answer questions and essays;
  • And I answer a lot of questions which HSC students frequently ask (and which I find are not frequently answered), including:
    • Should I be doing a lot of practice questions?
    • Should I be doing practice exam papers? (And how do I fit these into my study - I'm busy enough doing my homework and assessments?)
    • Cramming - does it work, really? (And how to cram better!)
    • Study Timetables - following the times I set? (I recommend an alternative to study timetables because study timetables didn't work for me)
    • What about study breaks, eating and sleeping?
    • Is it better to wake up early or stay up late to study?
    • Does studying with music help?
    • What is the best lighting for study?
    • Does the pen you use matter?
    • Is there a multiple choice answer that's more common than others?
    • Tutoring-is it worth it?
    • My brother studied 40 hours a week and did well. Do I need to do that many hours to do well?
    • I get really nervous in exams and I forget most of what I know. What should I do?
    • I know I just have to get started, but can't seem to. What can help me get started?

Below are some of the comments I have been emailed by people around the world about Top Study Secrets:

  • "Your study hints have been very helpful as they are concise and some of them are very easy to remember; I believe that the 'strongest' advice that you have in there is that of "Anchor points".

    Sebastian F.
    Year 11, Scots College, Sydney, Australia

  • "I really like the tone of the book, it's very easy to read and the advice is good - besides covering some areas that most study guides wouldn't, or would dismiss (like cramming!)."

    Owen T.
    19 year old Music Degree student, first year at university, Essex, Great Britain, who has just come through his end of school exams.

  • "Awesome book, great tips! I really enjoyed reading the study guide. You did a great job. Wish you were around when I was in college!"

    Cheryl F.
    20+ years of English writing expertise, Fort Worth, Texas, USA


I hope this book helps you just as much as you study for your HSC! To order Top Study Secrets, click below

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