For many of you the HSC PDHPE half yearly exam is fast approaching. You have only just settled back into your rhythm, and now in just a couple of weeks you will be sitting your first major set of exams for your HSC. So let’s have a quick look at a couple of the best ways for you to prepare for the half yearly exam.

Exam Structure

The first thing you should do is find out from your teacher what structure the half yearly exam will take. If your teacher follows the HSC Exam structure then you should have something like the following (provided you have basically finished 1 Core and 1 Option):

  • Core 1 or 2
    • 10 multiple choice questions
    • 20 marks worth of written response questions
  • Option
    • 20 marks of extended response questions (usually 2 questions one 8 and one 12)

Of course your teacher may provide something completely different, so it is always best to check with them.

Summaries

Your HSC PDHPE summaries should be completed as you go, so stay on top of them as you prepare for these upcoming exams. If your summaries are not done yet… GET ON TOP OF THEM NOW!! Do not leave them to the last minute, they will become a waste of time! (Or purchase ours)

Test Yourself

This is the most important thing for you to do as you prepare for the HSC PDHPE half yearly exam, or for any exam for that matter. There are multiple ways of testing yourself.

Flashcards

One of the easiest methods to test yourself is to use flashcards. Have the syllabus on one side and the content on the other. See if you can reproduce the content from memory after looking at the syllabus dot or dash point. If you get it right put it in one pile, if you get i wrong, put it in another pile to test yourself again with later. Remember spaced repetition is important for long term memory! If you don’t have time to create your own, you can purchase ours.

Past Papers

Find some past HSC PDHPE exam papers and answer the questions that match up with the topics you have covered. Do this in exam like conditions and then get feedback. I recommend marking it yourself using the marking criteria (found in the marking guidelines on BOSTES) and then give it to your teacher to get further feedback. You then need to up-date your answer from the feedback. Repeat this until you get 100% for the question.

Familiarise yourself with good answers

You should have a look at some of the past paper’s sample answers. Read through them and become familiar with what good extended response answers look like. This will help you to know what your teacher is looking for as they mark your half yearly exam.

For more study tips to prepare for the half yearly exam click here.