The week leading up to the 2025 Selective School Exam in New South Wales is an important time for students aiming to get into their preferred selective high school. It’s the final stretch, and while it may be tempting to do a lot of last-minute studying, it’s just as important to balance studying with taking care of your body and mind. Here’s a simple guide to help you get ready during the last week before the exam.

1. Review Key Topics, Don’t Cram.

With only a week left, avoid cramming too much information at once so you are not too stressed out. Instead, have spaced-out review sessions that review key ideas and strategies to solve different types of questions. Focus on understanding things better rather than trying to learn a lot of new things at once. Make sure to understand the different text types in Writing (e.g. persuasive, discursive, letter, report etc.) and become familiar with the different types of questions that can be asked in Reading Comprehension, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. If you have a PassPapers account, you can also use the ‘Review’ feature to generate different questions for certain topics.

2. Practice Like It’s The Real Thing.

One of the best ways to prepare is by doing practice tests under exam conditions. Use past papers or set a timer to make the experience feel like the real thing. Also, make sure not to use anything that would not be allowed in the actual exam to help you out during your practice test (e.g. search engine, parent’s help, etc.). Keep in mind which sections take longer so you can adjust how you use your time. Practising under these timed conditions will help you build mental endurance for the real exam. If you have a PassPapers account, you can practise full mock exams under timed conditions to simulate the real one or sort ‘Practice’ by different topics to help strengthen your weak topics.

3. Eat Well, Stay Hydrated, Rest Easy.

Your physical and mental wellbeing should be the most important thing leading up to your exam. Make sure you are eating healthy foods regularly, drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep every night. All of these are super important for helping you remember what you’ve studied and keeping you focused for long periods of time. Be sure to avoid sugary snacks or caffeine that might make you feel tired later or keep you awake for too long. Feeling nervous is normal, but it’s important to stay calm. Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or even light exercises like walking.

By combining smart study habits, self-care, and mental preparation, you’ll be sure to walk into the 2025 Selective School Exam and smash it with confidence!