Smarter, stronger, ready: what you need for HSC success

6 hours ago 4

Education Minister Prue Car says the HSC is a significant milestone – an opportunity to demonstrate everything you’ve learned.

Remember, you’re not doing this alone

A message from the Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car

To the HSC Class of 2025, this is a moment to pause, take a breath, and recognise how far you’ve come. After 13 years of learning, growing and showing up – you’re now preparing to cross the final threshold of your schooling years.

I want to congratulate you on reaching this point. The HSC is a significant milestone – an opportunity to demonstrate everything you’ve learned.

Information in this guide has been curated to help you navigate the coming months with clarity, confidence and care. In fact, this year marks 50 years of the HSC Study Guide – a proud legacy of support for students across NSW. I would like to thank The Sydney Morning Herald, in partnership with NESA, for continuing to produce this invaluable resource every year.

As you work through this guide, take the time to find what best supports you. Whether it’s a study technique, advice on looking after your wellbeing or inspiration for your next steps post-school.

The goal for this guide is not just success in your exams, but success in how you manage this milestone in your life.

Remember: you’re not doing this alone. Teachers, families, friends and school staff are walking alongside you, cheering you on and ready to offer support.

Once the exams are behind you, the world opens. University, TAFE, apprenticeships, jobs, travel, volunteering – there are many paths to fulfilment and purpose. Back yourself. Be curious and be open to what comes next.

You’ve already achieved something remarkable by getting here. As you take these final steps toward the end of school and the beginning of whatever’s next, I wish you courage and every success.

Smarter, Stronger, Ready: Your 2025 HSC Study Guide

You’ve put in the hard work and now it’s time to bring it all together. The 2025 HSC is your moment to show what you’ve learned, how far you’ve come and what you’re capable of. We’re here to help you shine.

NESA and The Sydney Morning Herald worked together on this guide, now in its 50th year, and packed with more useful support, resources and tips than ever before.

You’ll find practical advice from recent graduates, guidance from expert markers, and stories from familiar faces who know what it’s like to tackle the final year of school.

NESA chief executive officer Paul Martin urges students to access study resources.

Explore our new video content and extra resources to make study more flexible, focused and even a little fun. Whether you’re reviewing content, testing yourself, or just needing some inspiration for next steps, there’s something here for you.

See how your parents or siblings would fare in the HSC exams, by joining them on one of the biggest and best multiple choice HSC quizzes!

ReachOut, our wellbeing partner, is back with trusted resources to help you manage stress, stay motivated and look after your mental health, while our colleagues at the University Admissions Centre have worked with us to dispel some persistent ATAR and HSC myths.

The HSC is more than just a set of exams – it marks the conclusion to 13 years of schooling and recognises your commitment, your effort and your growth.

Take what you need from this guide and be proud of how far you’ve come – we believe in you and we’re with you all the way.

Paul Martin, CEO, NSW Education Standards Authority

Five simple tips to feel your best in year 12

Taking study breaks to do things that make you happy is crucial, like spending time with friends.

ReachOut offers some advice on taking a proactive approach to your mental health in year 12 and beyond.

Look after the basics: Simple things like moving your body, eating healthy snacks and getting regular sleep will help to keep your mood up. When you take care of these things, life tends to flow more smoothly.
Break down the workload: Break your goals into small, achievable steps. This is less daunting and it can be fun to track your progress and celebrate each one as you finish.
Understand your pressure points: Identify your main stressors so you can create some effective self-care and support strategies to help manage them.
Practise self-care: Year 12 is not a sprint, it’s a marathon, so pace yourself. Taking breaks to do things that make you happy is crucial and will help to keep you motivated through to the finish line.
Seek help: Some stress in year 12 is totally normal – it can even help you stay motivated. But if it’s constant or overwhelming, it can be harmful. If you’re feeling this way, ReachOut or your GP are both good places to start when it comes to getting support.

simple things like moving your body, eating healthy snacks and getting regular sleep will help to keep your mood up.

Five key steps to supporting your teen

ReachOut says families can play an important role in their teen’s year 12 journey.

Keep communication open: Regular check-ins are important during year 12. Consider giving positive feedback, offering support and sharing your own experiences if they feel relevant.
Set boundaries for technology: Technology can sometimes hinder your teen’s concentration, but it can also be a necessary tool for studying, relaxing and getting support. Agree on some boundaries for activities such as social media and gaming, especially during exam periods.
Take breaks together: Regular breaks are crucial for year 12 success. Taking time out as a family can help to ease the pressure on students and foster healthy bonds. You might like to schedule some simple activities that you all enjoy, to have fun and to check-in with each other.
Make home study-friendly: Little things like helping your teen to set up a functional study space and having healthy snacks on hand can help to lighten their load.
Watch for signs of excessive stress: If your teen is struggling with things like sleep, poor eating habits, low self-esteem, increased irritability or health problems, they may be carrying too much stress. Talk to your teen about it and seek support from places like ReachOut for Parents or your GP.

50th anniversary edition of the HSC Study Guide

This is the 50th anniversary of the HSC Study Guide: a partnership with the NSW Education Standards Authority designed to support the 80,000 plus students sitting HSC exams this year and every year since 1975.

More than 4 million HSC students have had the opportunity to use this resource over the 50 years of publishing.

This guide offers valuable information, stories, tools and other resources designed to motivate and inspire this year’s HSC students.

Over the years we have spoken to past and present HSC students, how they studied, coped with the stress of the exams and how they achieved their high results. We also spoke to expert teachers who are also HSC markers who have offered their tips for success.

We also adapted to the times. When COVID struck and students had to pivot during lockdowns and isolation we included expert advice from mental health services offering ways to cope with the associated stresses and tolls of working in isolation and doing exams remotely.

Herald editor Bevan Shields stressed the importance of the guide as a resource for students and their parents, offering tools and guidance to navigate the all-important exams.

“The guide is something we have proudly backed for 50 years, helping countless students along the way. Its longevity is testament to its importance,” he said.

“To the HSC Class of 2025 we wish you all the success in your endeavours.”

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