HSC STEM Survival Guide: Loreto Normanhurst Educator Shares Top Tips to Maximise Marks in Physics
With more than 37 years of experience, Loreto Normanhurst’s Physics teacher Alison Fell is offering practical strategies to help students stay calm, confident, and exam ready.
With the HSC exam period fast approaching, Loreto Normanhurst’s dedicated educator Alison Fell says success in STEM subjects comes down to strategy, mindset and balance. In these final weeks, it is preparation, not panic, that makes the difference.
Physics teacher Alison brings decades of classroom experience and has guided hundreds of students through the pressures of Year 12. She highlights that while mastering content is essential, equally important are the habits, routines, and approaches to problem-solving that help students perform at their best.
“Dedication, not motivation, is what gets results,” says Alison. “Consistent effort and balance are what carry students across the line – not staying up all night in the final week.”
Top Tips from Physics Teacher, Alison Fell
- Use positive self-talk: Reframe “don’t make careless mistakes” as “take greater care with your work.” The brain responds to action-focused language.
- Remember her acronym SCUD: Significant figures, Conversions, Units, and Direction. Writing SCUD at the top of the exam paper helps keep easy marks front of mind when solving mathematical problems.
- Work with your brain: “Like Microsoft 365, it’s always running in the background.” Read every question and start with the ones you know how to answer. By the time you return to more challenging questions, you will have gained confidence and will most likely now have insight as to what you need to do.
- Focus on relaxing after dinner the night before: Do something enjoyable and get a good night’s sleep.
- Dedication, not motivation: Consistency and balance matter more than last-minute cramming. By focusing on keeping up to date and completing useful hours of homework and study, the ‘streak’ reinforces good habits rather than waiting for motivation to occur.
- High-scoring responses are clear and concise: The strongest answers show logical reasoning, not just the final solution. Planning, bullet points, and formulae all help when answering extended response questions.
While today’s students have more resources than ever before, from AI tools to online study hubs, Alison emphasises that success still depends on clear thinking, calm focus, and trust in the preparation already done.
This advice reflects Loreto Normanhurst’s holistic approach to education, supporting students not just academically but also in building resilience, confidence, and wellbeing. By combining practical strategies with guidance on mindset and stress management, the school helps students approach the HSC feeling prepared and empowered.
About Loreto Normanhurst
Loreto Normanhurst is an independent Catholic, day and boarding school for girls in Years 5 - 12.
It offers an award-winning model of learning, an extensive extra-curricular program, a modern faith, and a strong sense of community.
With 128 years of excellence in educating girls, Loreto Normanhurst graduates are independent, articulate, compassionate women who are seekers of truth and doers of justice.
Sarah Finn
