HSC Exams

 

HSC Exams: Stop Saying Our Year 12 Kids Aren’t Stressed Enough

 

There’s been so much negative press lately about the Year 12 students currently doing their HSC exams. Let’s stop saying they are lazy!

 

 

Let’s chat about HSC exams.

There’s been lots of talk in the media lately about how our current Year 12 students are “lazy” and “not stressing enough” about their HSC exams due to receiving early entry university offers.

Now unless those writers are living in the home of a Year 12 student who is representative of the entire Year 12 student population (FYI: not possible), I’d personally love to bring to the public’s attention that the following fact:

 

Such generalizations about our current Year 12 Students are not only unhelpful but also disrespectful to students who are actually doing their best to study hard during this exam period (aka: most students).

 

I write this as the mother of a Year 12 student who was a) granted early entry into university and b) also isn’t lazy.

As for the stressing part…let’s have a conversation about this.

When an onlooker makes a comment such as “these Year 12 students are not stressing enough” it seems to be done with the expectation that they should be stressing more, as if more stress is a badge of honor.

 

HSC EXAMS

But the feeling of stress has no bearing on the ATAR results a student will get.

 

High stress levels won’t guarantee a student an ATAR of 80+ just like low stress levels aren’t connected to a mystery mark.

There are students who get an ATAR result of above 90 who maintain a calm and composed manner throughout the HSC exam period, just like there are students whose stress levels are through the roof that score under 50.

 

This is because the feeling of stress comes from the thoughts you are thinking about a circumstance.

 

As a mindset coach with a degree in psychology, I truly believe that life would be so much easier for our students (and all adults to be honest) if they were aware of this basic CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) concept.

 

HSC EXAMS

That is, it’s your THOUGHTS rather than your circumstances that impact your feelings and ultimately your actions and results in life.

 

I repeat, NOT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. What this means is it isn’t the HSC exams that cause our students stress. Instead, it’s the THOUGHTS they think about the exams.

HSC EXAMS

 

 

 

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For example, when a Year 12 student thinks thoughts like:

 

  • My whole life depends on these exams.
  • I’m going to fail.
  • I haven’t studied enough.
  • I have no idea what I’ll do next year.
  • Oh my gosh, this is so freaking hard!
  • My parents and/or school are pressuring me to do well.
  • There’s no way I will remember everything I’m learning.

 

…It’s these specific thoughts about the exams that make them feel stressed, not the exams itself.

Just the same, you can have another student – either academic or non-academic – who decides to think a different set of thoughts about the HSC like:

 

  • I’ve totally got this.
  • I’m well-prepared.
  • I‘ve got enough time to learn what I need to know.
  • No matter what ATAR I get, I’m going to do well in life.
  • In three months from now, this will all be done and dusted.
  • I have no reason to stress.
  • I have the option to remain calm.
  • My ATAR has no bearing on my worth as a human being

 

 

HSC EXAMS

 

 

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When a student thinks these thoughts, how do you think they feel? Chances are they feel a lot calmer and more confident as a result of thinking these specific thoughts.  This leads me to my next point:

 

Why would we WANT our students to feel super stressed about the HSC exams?

 

Do we think this will make them work and study harder? (News alert: feeling stressed doesn’t lead to increased productivity; it only clouds one’s focus).

For the record, many students who have already received early entry offers are still feeling stressed (once again – this is due to the thoughts they’re thinking about their exams).

 

But why would we want them to feel this way?

 

Do teachers or parents think that they’re doing a great job when their Year 12 student exhibits high levels of stress?

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Imagine the dialogue that run through these critic’s heads:

 

Oooh, yes, let’s place an incredible amount of pressure on our students to force them to perform well. And let’s layer it on super thick until they almost crack (but obviously not crack too much in case they take their own life like so many students have in the past).

Let’s make them also think that these ATAR results will predict and determine their entire future! That’s a good move.

 

Seriously, can everyone just give these students a break?

 

If there happen to be some students who feel less stressed due to receiving an early entry offer shouldn’t we be celebrating the fact? Good on them! They SHOULD BE enjoying the feeling of being less stressed.

Unlike so many students in the years gone past who had no idea what lay ahead for them in the future, they know EXACTLY what they will be doing next year. They worked hard and were rewarded for their efforts.

Once again, good on them! They received those early entry offers because they worked hard for them and if they are feeling a sense of peace in the lead up to their exams…. all I know is that is a feeling I would have loved to have in the lead up to my own HSC exams that I sat exactly 30 years ago.

 

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Let’s not make assumptions about whether they have just “given up” and are now being lazy.

 

Most students who achieved the grades that scored them an early university offer want to still achieve a high ATAR. They want to work hard.

 

Rather than criticizing their efforts, how can we support them during this time? How can we be kind? It’s certainly not by making attacks on their efforts.

Let’s assume the best of them.

Let’s assume they are actually doing their best.

Let’s assume we may be finally doing something right to take away the unnecessary pressure that has made students feel like these HSC exams are a “life or death” moment in their lives.

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As adults we already know that our HSC marks do not determine our future results.

 

We know they do not determine your future levels of happiness or the amount of joy you’re capable of experiencing in life.

So, if some of these students happen to be stepping into the exams feeling calmer and less stressed, let’s celebrate this fact.

That’s such a great accomplishment! They are doing it right!

Let’s do what we can to raise our young adults up rather than dragging down our future leaders of this world. 

 

 

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