"You only get out what you put into your studies."
Almost every senior student has heard some variation of this advice from teachers, tutors, parents, or friends. In this context, what you are expected to "put in" is hours of study and hard work. But why is it that two students who study for the same amount of time can end up with completely different results?
Aside from natural aptitude and ability, one of the key differences lies in how that study time is spent. The distinction between low-value and high-value study tasks can make all the difference when preparing for Year 11 and 12 assessments across VCE, HSC, IB, QCE, WACE, and SACE, or just generally.
Low-Value Tasks: When Study Time Isn’t Maximised
Low-value tasks involve minimal critical thinking or challenge. While these tasks can be useful, particularly when learning new material, they should not replace the high-value tasks that contribute directly to assessment and exam success.
Common low-value tasks include:
- Writing quote banks for English
- Summarising historical topics for subjects like Modern History or Global Politics
- Writing out mathematical formulas and approaches
To put this into perspective, imagine a chess player who reads books on strategy but never actually plays a game. While useful, this knowledge alone is meaningless without real practice. The same applies to senior exams—simply memorising quotes, summaries, or formulas is not enough. You are not assessed on how much you know but rather on your ability to apply that knowledge under exam conditions.
High-Value Tasks: Where You Should Focus Your Effort
High-value tasks are those that:
- Mimic real exam conditions
- Engage higher-order thinking skills
- Directly develop the skills being assessed
These tasks include:
- Writing full essays in response to prompts (English, Literature, Theory of Knowledge for IB)
- Completing short-answer or extended response exam-style questions (Science, Business Management, Legal Studies, Psychology, etc.)
- Solving complex maths problems under timed conditions (Mathematical Methods, Specialist Maths, IB Maths HL/SL)
Research shows that applying knowledge within the same context as your assessment significantly improves recall. This is why students tend to remember quotes used in essays far better than those simply listed in a quote bank.
Most importantly, engaging in high-value tasks allows you to practise the skills you are actually being marked on, ensuring that your study time delivers the best possible return on investment.
Balancing Low-Value and High-Value Study Tasks
The time you spend on each type of task will naturally depend on where you are in your study timeline.
- Early in a topic: Spend more time on low-value tasks to build foundational knowledge (e.g., one hour of high-value tasks for every two hours of low-value tasks).
- Midway through your studies: Shift to an even balance between the two.
- Approaching exams: Focus almost entirely on high-value tasks to refine your exam technique.
Your study methods should also evolve over time. You might begin with untimed practice exams to develop skills before transitioning to timed conditions as assessments approach.
Make Your Study Time Count
We all know that practice makes perfect, but only if you’re practising the right way. To succeed in VCE, HSC, IB, QCE, WACE, or SACE, you must be strategic about how you study—ensuring that your efforts are spent on tasks that will genuinely improve your performance.
Need Help Refining Your Study Strategy?
Whether you're struggling to balance study tasks or looking to boost your exam performance, Learnmate's expert tutors can guide you in making the most of your study time—no matter which curriculum you're following.
