I think there's been fantastic tips and strategies raised. What you probably notice is that everyone has their own unique method of learning. There's not only one way to achieve a 99+ ATAR. So it's important that you spend the first few weeks experimenting what works for you
Like what was your way of approaching sacs/exams
I'll focus on my approach to SACs since I modified my approach for exams.
1. Know exactly what the SAC is testing, its format (short answer or multiple choice) and how long it goes for. This is important so you're mentally prepared and you have a plan of attack e.g. multiple choice then short answer questions. Some students also skip classes during SAC season to study for their SACs, but often in the lessons leading up to the SACs, your teacher might give you a few pointers/ hints! So be sure to attend class... especially close to SACs
2. Have a list of everything you want to get done before the SAC and in order of priority. e.g. #1 Practice SACs/ questions from School, #2 Practice SACs/ questions from companies, #3 Summarised notes understood and memorised (if need be)
3. Go into the SAC with calm and collected (I know, a lot easier said than done)! What I found effective was not talking to peers in the few minutes leading up to the SAC stressing. Instead, I took some time to myself, strolling around the school garden. Find what works for you
4. Ask seniors/ those who have done the subject for tips and advice. In particular, ask those from your school/ those who had the same teacher so you know what to expect. For example, from casually talking to some seniors, I found that my teacher
loves to test certain concepts
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Your study routine on weekdays and weekends
I doubt there's anyone who sticks to their routine 100% and that's
completely fine 1. On the weekends, I studied at home whereas I headed to the school library on weekdays. Perks of staying at school include being able to ask your teachers questions after hours. However, often I'd bump into friends and talking to them took priority over studying. So it completely depends on the atmosphere at your school library as to whether you find it effective or not.
2. Some plan what they'll be doing every 5 mins of their life with timetables, but I found that terrible for me! Sometimes plans change, so I preferred writing a to do list (ordered in terms of priority) of everything I had to get done.
How you made sure you were ready for the tasks ahead
1. As smamsmo22 and Lear mentioned, the assessment calendars with approximate dates of SACs are hidden gems! The high achievers aren't necessarily the smartest. Instead, they keep on top of what needs to be done and when everything is. The early detection of "SAC season" (when you have a ton of SACs back to back) is key. After all, how are we to plan ahead if we don't know what is ahead?
2. Seniors once again are of huge help here. Take a look at headings/ anything bolded in the textbook/ your teachers' notes as well. This is so you can distinguish the high-yield information and low-yield information. Before starting any topic, I tried to achieve an broad and holistic view of what the main ideas were, before zoning in on the details and nitty gritty.
How much should one depend on resources outside the main textbook
As Joseph41 mentioned, never rely solely on a single resource. Instead look at different resources: the study design, company notes, Youtube videos, etc. Of course, however, keep in mind that they all could contain errors. Plus, most Youtube videos aren't tailored towards VCE. Always check with your teacher/ tutor.
How early and frequently to do practice exams etc
1. I started doing practice exam questions when we were learning the topic. As frequently repeated here, textbook questions (beside chapter review) can give a false sense of security. Focus on exam-style questions early-on so you see what is commonly tested and what the common traps are.
2. However, I only started doing full practice exams after I finished the course content in October. In order of priority, I completed all VCAA exams including NHT and sample exams (from most recent to the oldest). This included all relevant questions from even the 2002 Chemistry exams. My second priority were company exams from the current study design (from most recent to the oldest once again). My last priority were company exams from the previous study design. I didn't even get to my this!
3. You'll often find that what commercial companies say contradict what VCAA says. Obviously stick with VCAA. Sometimes, VCAA even seems to contradict themselves. Always use the
latest information from VCAA.
4. You'll also find that some commercial exams are ridiculously hard (I'm looking at Lisachem chemistry exams especially in recent years). They're honestly a waste of your precious time in Year 12. Focus on what VCAA wants, rather than unrealistic exams.
As always, let me know if you have any questions