HSC exams begin in little over a month, and senior lecturer and acting director of the Clinical Psychology Program at UNE, Dr Amanda Jefferys, has relived the HSC eight times with members of her blended family.

This year, more than 80,000 students in New South Wales are studying for their Higher School Certificate. Students will sit 123 written exams from October 16 to November 7, starting with English and finishing with Food Technology.

Mathematics is the most popular subject, after English, which is mandatory, and more than 5500 markers will work across New South Wales in three marking centres as well as from home.

HSC results will be issued online, by email and via SMS from 6am on December 18, 2025.

Dr Jefferys shares her road-tested strategies for coping with the inevitable stresses and strains of the HSC.

Maintain good routines

“Stay active, get adequate sleep and remain connected with your community. Favour fresh wholefoods to support the body and brain function and avoid processed foods as much as possible. Exercise and maintaining social connections are important, so keep the channels of communication open with your family and friends.”

Make flexible study plans

“Ensure study goals are manageable and achievable by creating a flexible, written study plan. Be consistent and focused, but include downtime and fun time every day as sessions, and blank blocks of catch-up time for any study sessions you may have missed.”

A positive mindset is everything

“Motivation not procrastination. Whether you respond best to extrinsic or intrinsic motivations, you just have to knuckle down and study sometimes, and HSC is one of them. Break tasks down into smaller chunks and make a start. Develop a mind map and build on it each study session, to help you stay on track.”

Be kind: show compassion for yourself and others

“Including positive reinforcement in the form of rewards will help keep you motivated. That is, work first then reward yourself by going for a run or meeting a friend to maintain balance. There will be peaks and troughs in your performance in the lead-up to the HSC, so try to avoid comparing yourself to others. Focus on where you are at and celebrate your progress to date, and praise others for their progress, too.”

Reach out to your best supports

“Your peers, parents and loved ones are all engaged in this process with you. Ask for whatever level of support you might need, even if only to debrief. Early warning signs that a student is feeling overwhelmed may include cynicism, negativity, or blaming others or the process.

“That’s when you may need help to reset by reaching out to additional supports or a professional.”

Soften the stress: load up on early entry applications

“Planning for the future and knowing where you are heading can make the entire HSC experience a lot less stressful.”

Finish your day with an acknowledgement

“Reflect on what has worked well and recognise your achievements, however small. By noticing the good things that occur in your day, you will be more likely to notice other good things. And this all contributes to a restful night’s sleep.”

Recognise the learning that comes with the HSC

“I’ve been on the ground a long time and no one has ever asked me what mark I got for the HSC. I originally studied ecology, then a Bachelor of Education, then changed to psychology and did doctorates in health and clinical psychology. The HSC was just part of that learning journey – a chance to learn about myself, my character and where my talents lie. We learn when our mettle is tested.”

Good health and wellbeing are the best HSC result

“Believe it or not, your parents will still love you no matter what your HSC result. They simply want their young adult to come out the other side as an independent, capable individual who is doing something that gives their life meaning. Your wellbeing is more important than any exam.”

Remember: it will all be OK