You have all worked so hard to graduate from 13 years of schooling, and have now arrived at the point when all of your efforts will be rewarded in your final grade. This may be frightening, exhilarating, or anxiety-inducing for certain students. Believe that we've all been there and know how terrifying it is. This is why we've combined our knowledge to list the most productive things to do while you wait!
Tip 1: Year 12 exams are done. Don’t fret over things you can’t change.
As tempting as it is to lay in bed at night tossing and turning about your answers, DON’T! The exam is over and cannot be changed; as terrifying as this may be, overthinking will accomplish nothing but induce stress.
Some find it helpful to discuss the exam and answers to certain questions with their peers, some find this fear inducing. Know yourself and know which will serve you.
Tip 2: Focus your time and energy on the things that you can. Research your options.
The next chapter of your life is now months away. While many researched and set their hearts on specific degrees or universities (or maybe even a trip abroad now that borders are opening), now’s a great time to research your options.
Universities are often willing to assist you in any way they can, whether it be through in-person visits or phone consultations. This is a great way to learn about different career pathways you may not have heard about before, as well as alternate pathways to take if you don't receive the grades you need. It is important to consider:
- The degree: Consider why you are pursuing a certain degree. Make sure that you have picked a course that you are genuinely interested in and will enjoy, rather than one that you have chosen due to pressure or the stigma connected with the course/university
- Be sure the course duration is appropriate for your lifestyle; if you are going to commit to a lengthier degree, such as law or medicine, Consider whether you will be patient enough to finish
- University preferencing: Most universities have a particular specialisation; some excel in business, art, science, and so on. In addition to looking at the institution as a whole, check into your individual course and speak with the head of the department to learn more about the course and what it has to offer you
- Entry difficulty: Be mindful of the entry requirements for each course, some courses require prerequisites done in year 12 such as Maths Methods or Specialist Maths (in Victoria) so it is important to make sure you are checking these details
- Where the course leads: if you are unsure about what you want to study but have a general idea of what you are interested in, it may be a better idea to research broader degrees such as those in arts and science as opposed to enrolling in a degree for dentistry that locks you into a career with little wiggle room
Australia is known for having an excellent range of universities and courses. We have included a list of some popular universities with links to their course handbooks:
- Australian National University (ANU): https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/search
- The University of Melbourne: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/search
- The University of Sydney: https://www.sydney.edu.au/handbooks/
- University of New South Wales (UNSW): https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/find-a-degree-or-course
- University of Queensland (UQ): https://future-students.uq.edu.au/study/programs?year=2022
- Monash University: https://handbook.monash.edu/
- University of Western Australia (UWA): https://handbooks.uwa.edu.au/
- The University of Adelaide: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/
Tip 3: Make time for yourself and the hobbies you’ve had to put off
Hobbies are sometimes neglected in year 12 as school work takes priority, so now is an excellent opportunity to invest in yourself and your passions. Having a hobby provides us joy and refreshment, gives us the opportunity to acquire new skills, and allows us to socialise by meeting new people. Continually attempting to challenge and up-skill oneself to be better is a terrific investment to make in both a personal and professional context. Workplaces are always looking for employees with a variety of abilities who are actively striving to improve themselves.
Examples of some popular hobbies include:
- Joining a sports team
- Cooking
- Painting
- Rock climbing
- Hiking
- Surfing
- Volunteering
Tip 4: Monetise your hard work (aka Tutoring with Learnmate!)
You’ll find yourself sitting across an interviewer for an internship or a graduate or entry position a year to three years from now and the resume that you hand over to them is a snapshot of your academic and professional life.
Many organisations and companies look for extracurricular activities to understand candidates’ interests and how they manage conflicting priorities (an indicator of high performance).
If you’re someone who did well in years 11 and 12, have a track record of academic excellence and believe you’ll receive above an 85 ATAR or equivalent, then tutoring might be the extra-curricular activity for you.
Not only will you be able to monetise all of your hard work in Year 12, it’s rewarding helping others overcome knowledge gaps, excel in their studies, and achieve their academic and ATAR goals. It’s also a unique time in your life where you will be one of the few who are the most knowledgeable and skilled in a subject. Because of that unique skill and experience, tutors on Learnmate earn up to $70 per hour.
Since 2015, Learnmate has provided an exciting and supportive environment for tutors across Australia.
As a Learnmate tutor, you can choose to tutor online, in person, or both. You may also choose where and when you want to teach, how you want to adapt classes to your specific students' requirements, and how much you want to charge each hour. Unlike other teaching platforms that impose predetermined hourly rates or set the amount you are paid per hour, Learnmate gives you the option to select your rate and keep more of what you earn.
More advantages of tutoring with us include:
- Access to our cutting-edge online learning platform.
- Access to all aspects of tutoring administration, including calendar management, payment processing, and specialised assistance.
- There is no such thing as exclusivity. You are free to tutor independently or with other companies. Don’t lock yourself in!
- Tutors benefit from a low commission of 30% on each completed lesson, which represents exceptional value for money (especially when compared to Learnmate's competitors).
- Open invitation to attend educational meetups with like-minded tutors.
- Access to collaborative Facebook groups with our tutors.
Ready to become a tutor? Register online here: https://learnmate.com.au/tutor-registration
Have killer Year 12 subject notes that you’d like to sell? Email hello@learnmate.com.au
About Learnmate
Learnmate is a trusted Australian community platform that connects students who want 1:1 or small group study support, with tutors who are looking to share their knowledge and earn an income. From primary school to high school subjects — from science and maths to niche subjects like visual communication — Learnmate can help you improve academic performance or boost confidence, at your pace with the tutor that you choose.
We pride ourselves in offering a reliable and positive experience for both our students and tutors. Every tutor that joins the platform is vetted to meet a level of academic excellence, teaching qualification or relevant experience. All tutors are provided the opportunity to complete professional training.
Students and parents can easily find and screen for tutors based on their location, their subject results or skill level, and whether they provide in-person or online sessions. Learnmate is proud to provide tutors in Melbourne, Sydney, Geelong, Brisbane, Hobart, Canberra, Perth & Adelaide, and other locations.
