How to Transition from Year 11 to Year 12
The last school bell of the year rings. You have finally completed Year 11 and an appealing two months of school-free holiday awaits you. Firstly, congratulations on finishing your second last year of school! You are now one step closer to the long-awaited graduation – exciting, isn’t it? While this is surely a prime time for some well-deserved celebration and relaxation, getting prepared for a smooth transition from Year 11 to Year 12 will definitely come in handy in your final year of school.
A couple of simple steps and you will see Year 12 fly by like an arrow as you make the most of your last schooling year! Learn more about the transition from year 11 to year 12 and how both matter when it comes to ATAR scores.
1. Treasure Your Year 11 Notes
If you have had a peek at your Year 12 subject textbooks, you will see topics that are almost identical to those studied in Year 11. Senior subject topics are introduced in Year 11 and expanded in Year 12. You will be studying the same topics, just with more advanced content and to a more profound level – this will apply to most core subjects. Year 11 to Year 12 is about building on what you already learned. Don’t chuck your old books, they’ll be worth their weight in gold!
The good news about this is, you get to re-use all your Year 11 notes! Think of Year 11 as a foundation year in preparation for Year 12; it contains all the formative assessments while Year 12 is comprised of summative assessments.
That said, the notes that helped you through Year 11 will be of equal advantage to you in Year 12, especially when you need to refer to the basics in order to understand more challenging concepts.
To give yourself an extra boost, scan through your Year 11 notes occasionally throughout the summer holidays to refresh your memory on what you have learnt in the past year. This way, you will be all ready-to-go in Year 12 without having to revise the old concepts after school has begun.
2. Make Use Of Holiday Sessions
What better way to excel in Year 12 than to gain the advantage of being few steps ahead throughout the whole year?
Begin with requesting for holiday sessions with your tutor, who will be more than eager to help those of their students who seek to achieve above and beyond.
For your holiday sessions, select 2 to 3 of your strongest or most liked subjects and start the respective Term 1 syllabus. As you complete the first few topics that will be taught in Term 1 during the holidays, the content shall sit deeper in your mind when you learn it a second time in school.
Not only will this ensure you have a more profound understanding of the content than the rest of your cohort, you are now one term ahead of schedule in that it allows you and your tutor to begin Term 2 work at the end of Term 1 as well as during your break in between.
Consequently, throughout Year 12, you would have learnt the subjects you have selected twice, so that you become even stronger in your strongest subjects.
I also recommended for you to choose your most liked subjects for this purpose because you wouldn’t want to get sick of subjects you do not necessarily enjoy by studying them over the holidays, right?
Don’t get me wrong, holidays are still a time for you to relax, travel, catch up with friends, or stay home to binge watch TV series all day!
In view of that, your holiday tutoring sessions can take place either weekly or fortnightly, and easily scheduled according to your personal timetable, as our Academic Personal Trainers are usually pretty flexible and accommodating during the school holidays!
3. Set Goals And Follow A Plan
Almost every achievement is a result of a goal. Nevertheless, your goals do not have to be result-specific; it may not be realistic to set the goal of achieving an OP 1 when you do not have a plan that works towards this goal.
Hence, it is ideal to set goals that are attainable hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly. For instance:
- Finish Your Maths homework in an hour without any distractions
- Complete 300 words of your assignment by the end of the day
- Go to a consultation with your subject teacher at least once a week
- Finish reading the book you are studying in English by the end of the month
Such goals should not only be set when Year 12 begins, but also in the holidays during your transition between Year 11 to Year 12 (though they can be much more laid back!).
If you struggle to construct a realistic timetable during your holidays, simply consult your Academic Personal Trainer to give you a hand!
Personally, I like to utilise the sticky notes on my laptop as my planner, reason being I can easily edit them in the event that I am left with extra time to accomplish more or when plans change.
For those of you who prefer writing your goals down however, there are a variety of aesthetic planners available in bookshops and gift shops for you to choose from.
I recommend something handy which you can carry around with you so to ensure you will always stay on track with your plans. You could also have a look at the Neurobooks developed by A Team for a more content-specific planner.
By crafting an elaborate timetable in which you will follow diligently throughout Year 12, you are taking baby steps towards achieving your bigger, long-term goal.
Such goal-setting will also warrant a smooth transition as you have composed a clear path you wish to follow, which already places you ahead of the year!
4. Solidify Relationships With Teachers And Classmates
While academic goals and achievements are crucial in your final year of school, good relationships with those whom you will see 7 hours a day, 5 days a week are equally essential.
Imagine having spent most of your life with the same classmates and the same teachers who have been around since Prep, and now you have reached your last ever schooling year – you’d want to make the most out of it!
Firstly, cherish your high-school friendships as they may last a lifetime.
One of my best memories from Year 12 was the fun we had when my friends and I assisted one another in completing homework, group presentations and assessments.
This consisted of late-night calls, sleepovers and staying back after school to brainstorm ideas – you’d also be surprised how much you may learn from your classmates!
Secondly, develop close relationships with your teachers. Why? Check out our blog “Why being a teacher’s pet is so cool” to be amazed by the many benefits that come with good relationships with your teachers!
In addition, the numbered days you have together will make this coming year the most unforgettable year.
All in all, by solidifying relationships with your teachers and classmates, you will guarantee yourself a fun and rewarding time in Year 12!
5. Think Ahead
It is no doubt that Year 12 will be your busiest year of school. Amidst all the impending assessments, you have carnivals, house events, ATAR preparation, formal, and a number of other different school activities!
However, you shall not neglect to ponder about some huge decisions that you have to soon confront.
For example, begin thinking about the degree you would like to study in University, and set a goal for yourself to work towards accordingly. If you’re worried about making it to the final cut, now is the time to lock in your study goals for year twelve.
Alternatively, deliberate your plans after graduation – whether it is a gap year, or straight into a career, you have set out for yourself.
It could be anything at all – competing in performing arts, joining a sports team, becoming a tutor with A Team Tuition, or moving to another country for a couple of months – you are in control of your own decisions.
Again, you won’t likely go wrong with an elaborate plan set out for the year after Year 12.
I am sure you will consider these steps while easing your way into your final year of school. Going from year 11 to year 12 is an exciting challenge and one you’re ready to take on. We know you’ve got this! – A Team Tuition wishes you the best of luck. Exciting times ahead!
Click Here to see how our tutors can help your child transition from grade 11 to grade 12