BlogStudyHow You Can Use Your School Holidays to Get Ahead at School

How You Can Use Your School Holidays to Get Ahead at School

School holidays are a great time to relax and put the HSC to the back of your mind. However, (and hear me out!) they can also be used to get ahead in school and reduce stress later on in the term.

Often students don’t use their holidays effectively so we’ve got a few tips for you on using those school holidays to get work done but still have fun.

Bet that’s a sentence you never thought you’d hear…

Step 1: Write those notes you missed during the term

school holiday study

One of the most common study techniques students’ employ is writing notes but it’s often hard to fit them in during the term especially when it’s exam and assignment time.

Set yourself a couple of hours each day to catch up on notes so that they’re ready when HSC study comes round.

Alternatively you could spend 3-4 days doing notes and use the rest of the time to relax.

Looking for a more in-depth guide on getting ahead during the school holidays?

To check out our article, The Summer Holiday Study Plan To Get Ahead for Year 12, click here!

Step 2: Start those major works

school holiday study major work

Let’s face it: major works are called that for a reason – they are major stress inducers.

They take a lot of time and effort to complete and you can’t cram for them either — sorry procrastinators! The school holidays are a great time to get ahead in your major work either by completing research, doing methodologies or constructing the actual object.

Whatever you do decide to complete give it your full attention and ask your teachers for help if you’re stuck. It’s likely they’ll be able to tell you some good things to complete during the break.

Head over to this post here for some Major Tips for Major Works!

Step 3: Reward yourself!

school holiday study

Research has shown that teenagers have higher attention when rewards are involved.

It’s holiday time: you know you should be studying, but at the same time… it is the school holidays. 

So, let’s make it feel like you’re not just wasting your time.

Because it is the school holidays, a good rule of thumb is for every 3 hours successfully spent studying (and we mean seriously studying, not checking Facebook every 0.5 seconds) give yourself 1.5-2 hours of ‘you’ time.

From Experience! One thing I used to do during my own school holidays was complete a practice exam or do a major work methodology and as a reward I would watch 2-3 episodes of Modern Family.  

Step 4: Enjoy your school holidays

It’s easy to preach about constant study but we realise that school holidays are also a well-deserved break. Take a couple of days off where you don’t even think of anything remotely school related and enjoy your break.

Need ideas? Go see that new Marvel movie you’ve been waiting for, visit the beach or have a party (safely though!) with your friends.

The possibilities are endless and we recognise that after all the hard work you’ve done in the previous term you deserve some fun.

Whichever of these tips you use in your holidays it’s important to remember that you need to be realistic in your study goals. No one is going to be able to study for 12 hours a day, 14 days straight so make it manageable.

The better you plan your time the more work you will achieve and the better you will feel later on in the term.

So go forth and enjoy thy break but don’t forget to set aside some time to study!

Check out our other tips for studying over the holidays here!

Looking for some extra help with study?

We pride ourselves on our inspirational coaches and mentors!

We offer tutoring and mentoring for Years K-12 in a variety of subjects, with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home, online or at one of our state of the art campuses in Hornsby or the Hills! If you’re looking for some support in the Northern Beaches, reach out to our superb Dee Why tutoring team.

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!


Milana Gusavac thought she had seen the end of HSC until she realised that others out there needed help surviving year 12 just like she had. Now she’s a member of the Art of Smart team while perusing her studies at the University of Sydney, studying a Bachelor of Psychology. When not learning or helping other’s Milana can be found with her nose in a book or marathoning TV shows.

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