Hey ATAR Achievers, here is a post you want to remember. Around 70% of all students pursuing ATAR have math included in their 4 primary subjects; chances are, you are one of them, as am I. Time and time again, I see my closest friends overcomplicate this subject, feeling overwhelmed and studying countless hours to only scrape a 50. I’m not blaming them, as I too, was also guilty of having done this, often feeling burnt out and lost. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. What if I told you that you don’t have to spend all night cramming for that one topic you still don’t understand and that you're able to study for shorter periods to achieve the results you desire? Sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Well, today I’ll be sharing to you exactly how I was able to scale from the bottom of my class, averaging 35%, to finishing with a 93% overall. Step 1: Always be ahead of the class and stay ahead The first step I took to score high was to get ahead of my class in terms of the content they were learning. Review the content of the classes before you enter them, implement some practice questions if you can and skim over different topics. By trying to be in a position where, no matter what it is, you are ahead of your class and you have started doing practice questions or reviews on content that you have not previously covered, you are able to identify and fix mistakes earlier than those who have just started. By following this step, you can also grasp a deeper understanding of the content, so when it does come up in an exam or a test, you can understand and execute the concept easily. Step 2: Never leave work for later (it piles up faster than you expect) One of the biggest mistakes I have seen students make is underestimating the pace at which unfinished work can accumulate. Leaving just one task incomplete may seem harmless, but over time, it snowballs into an overwhelming backlog. To avoid this, adopt the "do it now" mindset. After each class, dedicate a short amount of time to revising the content covered that day. Complete all assigned homework or exercises while the material is still fresh in your mind. By tackling your work immediately, you’ll retain information better, reduce the need for last-minute cramming, and free up time to focus on challenging topics.