HSC GOAL SETTING: Easy Guide to ACING Senior High School
By now you are probably still adjusting to the early wake-up alarms to make your morning classes, wistfully looking back on your summer holiday and feeling worried about the year ahead, especially if you’re in your senior years in high school. This is where goals are very handy; they can keep you grounded, give a sense of guidance and motivate you to succeed. Here are some words of advice you can implement in making goals for the HSC or Prelims.
Identify your weak points
Everyone has areas of improvement. For some, this can be more specific things such as public speaking or trigonometry. For others, this can be more abstract and underlying issues, such as time management or procrastination. Make a list of the 5 weak areas you think will most strongly impact your HSC year and use these to base your goals off.
Have variety!
Often with goals it can feel like you’re writing the same thing over and over, with the overall message to just “be better” in every aspect. Having a variety of goals can help reduce the monotony of goal making. Try have at least one goal for every subject you do, and at least one overarching one to do with your study habits or how you will allocate your time. For example:
4U Maths: Stay on top of the homework by working on it consistently.
Advanced English: Write drafts before submitting a final essay.
Chemistry: Work on and complete past papers within the time limit.
Writing goals in present tense
Psychologically, by writing these goals as first person statements in present tense, it could help subconsciously feel like you are doing them and will feel more motivated to keep up with them. After all, it’s when you can confidently say such goals to others that you know you succeeded in them.
E.g. I stay on top of homework by working on it consistently.
I write drafts before submitting my final essays.
I am doing Chemistry past papers within the time limit to prepare for the exam.
Quantify your goals
Instead of vaguely telling yourself to “do more” of a certain thing, try set a number to it.
E.g. I stay on top of homework by working on it every night a week.
I write at least 2 drafts before submitting my final essays.
I am completing 6 Chemistry past papers within the time limit to prepare for this exam.
Put a time limit in
Promising yourself to keep up with maths homework is a good start, but actually putting time restrictions to your goals can keep you in check.
E.g. I stay on top of homework by working on it at 8 PM every night a week.
I write at least 2 drafts, to be finished a week before the due date, before submitting my final essays.
Every Saturday and Sunday I complete 6 Chemistry past papers within the time limit to prepare for this exam.
Write these goals down and keep them visible
Whether on a sticky note on your wall, on your laptop or on a whiteboard, it’s important to keep these goals visible especially in your study space so you can remind yourself constantly what you’re working towards.
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With a bit of determination, guidance, and using common sense to keep your personal goals realistic, you can easily keep these goals up and gain the results you want.
