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For him, planning and diligence, working out the most effective study habits and a positive state of mind were key.
“Yes, there was a lot of pressure and a lot of things to worry about,” he says. “But it felt very manageable with the right techniques.“
Top study tips
Success in year 12 is rarely a fluke, even for the most academically gifted students.
Phan trialled a range of study techniques to help achieve his ultimate goal of entering medicine.
Throughout the year, he kept a logbook of his learnings, jotting down any mistakes he made, to ensure he learned from them.
He also undertook study “sprints”, finding the “sweet spot” to be 45 minutes with a 15-minute break.
“I tried to eliminate as many distractions as possible, so I could get my study done in a more productive manner,” he says.
Phan says cramming isn’t always a bad thing, provided you already know the material.
“For me, cramming often came as a result of wanting to ensure every nook and cranny was covered,” he says. “I was pretty confident in my basics.”
Striking the right balance
Despite the temptation to burn the candle at both ends, it’s important for students to balance study with downtime.
Phan says eating dinner with his family and talking about their day, rather than ruminating over his workload, proved a good circuit breaker.
“I would taper down the study a bit the night before exams,” he reflects. “It was a ritual I got into that helped me sleep a bit easier.“
Other helpful habits included running, prioritising sleep (“no less than seven hours a night”), building a support network of teachers and classmates, and relaxing or watching movies with friends when feasible.
He’d even simulate the exam environment at home, wearing comfortable clothes he felt safe in, sitting practice exams and practicing mindfulness twice a day.
Guided meditations on the Smiling Mind app helped him switch off at night.
“That moment of tranquillity before sleep really helps you just settle in and refresh yourself for the next day,” Phan says.
Be open to all options
While high school is in the rearview mirror for Phan, exams are just around the corner for Huntingtower School Year 12 student Liam Jenkins.
VCE award winner Liam Jenkins says completing a VET subject ahead of his final year of school was transformative.
And the 17-year-old is surprisingly calm. After all, he lightened his load by ticking off one subject last year – and gained a nationally recognised qualification in the process.
Liam completed a Certificate III in Information Technology after taking on one VET (Vocational Education and Training) subject as part of his VCE.
He says it gave him the chance to accelerate his studies in year 11, and more time to focus on physics, maths methods, English and history revolutions this year.
He will still qualify for an ATAR, and even won a Study Award in the 2024 Premier’s VCE Awards.
“I’ve always been interested in IT, and when I heard my school offered this certificate, it felt like a valuable opportunity,” he says.
“I could earn a qualification while still getting a study score for my VCE. It also meant I’d finish it early and free up my final year.“
Liam believes more students should see VET subjects as a genuine pathway, not a less prestigious option.
“Some people discount them, but I think they should be looked at more seriously,” he suggests.
“You can still get an ATAR, still go to uni – but you open up more opportunities.“
Gaining job-ready skills – even before graduation
He’s yet to graduate, but Liam already has an employability edge.
Not only does he have a Cert III under his belt, but he also represented his school – and Victoria – at Australia’s largest trades and skills competition.
He walked away with gold at this year’s national WorldSkills National Championships in Brisbane, where under-25s in diverse trades tested their skills against the country’s best.
Liam competed in the VETiS Information Technology category program and says the experience was transformative.
“It was nerve-wracking going interstate without my parents, but it helped me step out of my shell,” he says.
“I met incredible people, improved my coding, and learned how to present myself professionally. Those soft skills will give me an edge in the job market.“
Liam says the Cert III qualifies him for entry-level IT roles – such as helpdesk support – that he could work in while studying at university. He’s now eyeing a double degree in computer science and engineering.
His advice to other students is simple: “Don’t let fear hold you back.“
What the chief assessors say
When it comes to exam time, it’s not just what you know that matters but how you approach the paper in front of you.
That’s according to the VCAA’s chief assessors, who have shared their advice for students based on previous exams in a suite of 10 recordings.
The insights were part of a pilot program and include key points:
1. Make sure you understand which materials you are allowed to take into the examination.
2. Spend a few minutes planning a response to long form questions to ensure you don’t miss anything. Break the question down into its parts and clearly identify how a response should be framed.
3. Carefully read the question – and respond accordingly. For example, if it asks for two examples, don’t write three or four and hope that two are correct.
4. Simply rewriting the information already provided as an answer does not demonstrate an understanding of a concept. You need to specifically address it.
5. Reviewing past exams remains an important study approach. But memorising and regurgitating answers from past exams is not usually a successful approach to a new question.
6. Understand the study design. Past exams may not directly translate to the format of this year’s exams if your subject has a new study design. Check the examination specifications and study design to prepare for your exam.
Examinations toolkit – handy tips and resources
● VCE navigator. A detailed guide to navigating exams, including what’s covered
and how marks are awarded.
● Examination timetable.
● Approved Materials list
● External assessor reports. An in-depth review of how students performed on last
year’s exams with tips on what led to higher or lower scores.
● Past examinations.
● Study design. Look out for new study designs, where past exam papers may not
help you.
How to prepare for oral, performance and Auslan interactive sign language exams
For many Victorian students, crunch time begins weeks before their peers sit down for their first written exams.
Performance, oral languages and Auslan interactive sign language exams mark the official start of the assessment period, starting from Monday, October 6.
They cover subjects such as VCE and VET Dance, VCE Drama, VCE and VET Music, VCE Theatre Studies and VCE Languages (except Classical Greek, Classical Hebrew, Aboriginal Languages of Victoria and Latin).
As the nerves start to jangle, students are being reminded that examiners will assess students based on their strengths – not weaknesses.
“Students should see the performance, language oral and/or Auslan interactive sign language examination as an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and hard work to the assessing panel,” a Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) spokesperson said.
“Assessors are always looking for what students can do, not what they cannot do.“
The VCAA advises students to rehearse regularly in a range of environments and to different audiences, to help prepare and boost their confidence.
Seeking regular feedback from teachers, and balancing study time between all exams are other important tips.
“The examination room may be different to their regular classroom or performance space,” the spokesperson said.
“Students should be accustomed to presenting their performance pieces to a variety of audiences – teachers, peers and supporters. Regular, consistent rehearsal of their performance examination will allow students to become increasingly more confident in their work.“
Students are also advised to carefully review each subject’s assessment criteria and the exam requirements via the Exams Navigator 2025 on the VCAA website.
