BlogStudyThe Importance of Setting Good Classroom Habits So You Can Ace the HSC

The Importance of Setting Good Classroom Habits So You Can Ace the HSC

Contemporary wooden classroom

Struggling to find the time to do the things you want after school because you’re swamped in school work? Not sure if there’s anything you can do to improve your classroom habits?

Well there are several things you can do, and we’ll be walking you through them right now! Building excellent classroom habits is the foundation stone of a great HSC, and we want to help you develop them.

Let’s get into it!

What are classroom habits?
Important Classroom Habits to Think About
Putting Them Into Action

So what are classroom habits?

‘Classroom habits’ is an all encompassing term, for the things you get up to in class! Everything from when you turn up to class, and where you sit, all the way up to how you actually take notes in class, and how you ask questions.

All the decisions you’ve been making on the tiniest little details can have a significant impact on your ability to learn new concepts.

Why are they so important?

Having good classroom habits makes the entire learning process smoother.

That means you’ll be up to speed in class, and the classroom becomes an opportunity to extend your knowledge, rather than catching up! If you’re up to date in class it also reduces your need to study and is a huge boon to your overall efficiency.

And there’s the old adage, ‘P’s (pass marks) get Degrees’. Truth is that those who believe in simply getting the P’s are wasting not only their time, but also their money by failing to undertake the most effective of all the classroom habits — actually turning up.

The difference between you and Lazy College Student is that you have to turn up, by law. But what do you do once you’ve turned up? Let us help!

Important Classroom Habits to Think About

It may seem like there’s a lot to developing good classroom habits, but there really isn’t much — these are the things you’ll need to do!

Classroom Habits - Diagram

#1: Active Listening – Are you listening?

This is perhaps the most obvious of all! Are you paying attention in class? I mean really paying attention.

How often have you been sitting in a classroom, and everything goes in one ear and straight out the other! Just listening to the words your teacher is saying isn’t enough, you need to be actively paying attention!

One of the great lecturers I had once said, “If I drop dead you should be able to finish my sentences.”

How can you be an active listener? 

  • Note-taking: Taking notes by hand whilst listening to content helps to reinforce that the messages sent have been received and understood.
  • Questioning: Asking questions allows you to make connections between different concepts to build upon or clarify what has been discussed, ‘What were the causes of X?’
  • Reflection: Reflection is closely repeating or paraphrasing what the speaker has said in order to show comprehension. This is usually done during questioning, ‘If X, Y and Z resulted in B, then what if X hadn’t occurred?’
  • Clarification: Clarification usually involves the use of open questions which enables the speaker to expand on certain points as necessary, ‘Was B a factor in C?’
  • Summarisation: Summarising involves taking the main points of the received message and reiterating them in a logical and clear way, giving the speaker chance to correct if necessary.

So don’t do things like homework in class, if you’re focussing on homework, you’re definitely not focussing on the lesson! If you truly understand what’s going on, you shouldn’t just know whats being spoken about right now, you should know where the lesson is going!

But that moment you start to lose track, what should you do?

#2: Ask the Right Questions

That’s right! Ask a question.

The moment you’re confused, you need to be preparing to ask a question. Don’t worry about what other people think! If you’re confused there is a 99% chance someone else has the same question and is too scared to ask! You won’t just be helping yourself, you’ll be helping everyone.

Don’t leave that question festering in your mind. That piece of information you’re missing might be relevant to the rest of the lesson, so it might leave you confused for the entirety of the lesson, which is the worst thing you can do.

It can also ruin the flow of the lesson if you ask a question about something from way earlier in the lesson — it’s best to ask the question while you’re still talking about it!

#3: Take Notes

You should NOT be trying to furiously write down every single thing your teacher says. Reading a huge pile of notes is going to be boring, you’ll just end up not reading them!

If you just write down the key points, it will save your hand from cramping, and your notes will actually be easier to read, and hence more useful!

If you’re writing less it also means you’ll be listening more, which is the point! Mindlessly writing everything is the easiest way to miss everything your teacher is saying.

How do you effectively take notes in class? 

Think about how you’re writing down the information, consider using mind maps, and flow charts as a tool to keep all the information your teacher is giving you. They’re great for summarising lots of ideas in a single page. It helps to know your learning type.

What’s your learning type? Knowing will save you time and you’ll remember!

Also try focussing on examples. Examples make the best notes, you can always read the textbook again for notes that are really clear. But what you really want to know is how to answer questions, or what the point of what you’re learning is. That’s what examples are made for!

#4: Find a Quiet Space

Most friendships are developed on some sort of conversation. But like everything, there’s a time and a place.

Finally, you should consider sitting next to someone you don’t normally sit next to! Sitting next to your friends is the easiest way to get distracted from the lesson.

Your goal should be to reduce gossip during the lesson. Sitting next to someone new is the easiest way. Simply promising not to talk to your friend too much during the lesson, is a fools errand.

It’s also a great way to meet new people. If you find yourself getting along too well, perhaps you’ll need to move again, but hey at least you’ve made a new friend!

Putting These Habits Into Action

You’ve got a better understanding of what you should be doing during class, but what should you be doing before and after? Look at our tips below for the most effective ways to study before, during and after class!

Classroom Habits - Tips

Looking for practice questions? Check out all the HSC past papers we’ve compiled here!

Looking for some extra help with study?

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We offer tutoring and mentoring for Years K-12 in a variety of subjects, with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at one of our state of the art campuses in Hornsby or the Hills!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational tutor and mentor get in touch today! 

Give us a ring on 1300 267 888, email us at [email protected] or check us out on TikTok!


Vamsi Srinivasan is looking to uncover the next hidden truth of the universe. He was fascinated by the beauty of Physics and Mathematics during his HSC. Now, he’s in his third year of a dual degree in Physics/Computer Science. Vamsi wanted to share his passion for Maths and Physics and has been an Art of Smart coach for the past 3 years. He coaches students in Physics as well as all ranges of HSC Maths from General to Extension 2. In his spare time you can find him watching Tennis or listening to his favourite podcast ‘Hello Internet’.

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