Selina’s High School Hacks: How to Achieve a 99+ ATAR

Wondering how to achieve a 99+ ATAR? Selina Duan shares her journey and top tips to score high in the VCE!

Me, Myself and I

Name: Selina Duan

School: Camberwell Girls Grammar School

ATAR: 99.40

University: Doctor of Medicine, Monash University

HSC Results:

Meet Selina at our next event!

Want to hear more about how Selina boosted her marks and confidence? She’ll be joining a panel of Matrix VCE experts at our free Year 7–12 Success Secrets Seminars.

You’ll walk away with practical tips to help you maximise your marks and ATAR — straight from students and expert teachers.

A little about me

Hey guys! My name is Selina, and I graduated from Camberwell Girls Grammar a little while back. After that, I completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, which led me to where I am today – in my final year of medicine at Monash University.

I’m someone who loves spending time outdoors and staying active – camping, hiking, and travelling are a few of my favourite activities. I’m also a huge music fan, whether it’s attending live gigs or just relaxing with a playlist at home. And of course, food is a big part of my life – Melbourne’s brunch culture has me hooked! You’ll often find me with a cup of coffee in hand, ready to enjoy a great meal or chat with friends.

My school life

Throughout high school, I loved being a part of music, sports, and various extracurricular activities. Immersing yourself in the school community, whether it’s through being a House Captain or participating in events, helps you grow and create lasting memories. Take these opportunities while you can because they’re harder to come by once you enter the workforce, university, or life after school.

Throughout high school, I stuck to my strengths, which I felt were in Maths and Science. However, at the last minute, I decided to drop Biology and switch to Accounting in Year 12. I questioned this decision immensely, as I knew I wanted to pursue a career in Medicine, but for some reason, the VCE Biology course just wasn’t speaking to me. Eventually, I took the plunge and ended up absolutely loving Accounting.

So, if you’re considering a subject change, pick something that you enjoy and you’re good at. It doesn’t always have to make sense at first with your career plan. Don’t choose a subject just because you think it will look good—choose ones that you’re good at and passionate about.

My routine

During the term

On a term level, I would:

• Review the study design for each subject and identify key areas I needed to focus on. 
• Create a rough outline of what I needed to achieve by the end of each week and month, with major deadlines or exams clearly marked on my calendar.

This helped me stay on track and gave me an overview of the term’s workload.

At a weekly level, I would:

• Allocate specific days for each subject, ensuring that I balanced my time effectively. For example, I might dedicate Mondays and Wednesdays to Maths Methods, Tuesdays and Thursdays to English, and Fridays to revision or catch-up work.
• Focus more on preparing for upcoming SACs on weekends by reviewing past SAC papers or practising similar problems.
• Used a combination of physical planners and digital tools like Google Calendar to organise my schedule, ensuring I made time for preparation without neglecting other subjects.

For my daily rhythm, I would:

• Plan my day in study blocks around my schedule. On free days, I’d start my sessions in the morning with subjects that I felt required more focus, such as English, and tackle Methods in the afternoon.
• Break down tasks into smaller, achievable goals using to-do lists, which helped me stay on top of assignments and SAC preparation.
• Leading up to SACs, I would do targeted revisions on the specific content I knew would be assessed. This might include practising past SAC questions, reviewing notes from class, and focusing on weak areas.

By sticking to a structured schedule and planning my SAC preparation well in advance, I could manage my workload and feel more confident going into assessments.

During my holidays

It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing the holidays purely as a chance to catch up on work. However, I quickly realised the importance of balancing study with proper downtime, as the holidays are also an opportunity to recharge and refresh.

To ensure I didn’t take my foot off the gas, I created a holiday study schedule that included focused work sessions, as well as dedicated time for rest and relaxation.

I tried to mix in short, productive study blocks—like 2–3 hours focused on specific subjects—with enough time to unwind. For example, I’d reserve Mondays and Wednesdays for reviewing notes and practising exam-style questions, while weekends were mostly free for self-care or enjoying life. This approach allowed me to keep up with my studies without burning out.

My secrets to exam preparation to achieve a 99+ ATAR

Preparation:
When I know exams are coming up, I start by creating a study timetable to organise my time effectively. I break down each subject into key topics and allocate specific times to study each topic, prioritising based on personal strengths and weaknesses. I also make sure to switch between subjects to keep things interesting and avoid burnout. Starting early allows me to feel more confident and not overwhelmed as the exam date approaches.

Resources:

Here’s how I ensured I was fully prepared:

• Gather study materials – Notes, textbooks, online resources, past exams.
• Make concise revision notes – Summarise key concepts using colour-coding & diagrams.
• Organise a reference folder – Keep key notes handy for final revision.

This structured approach ensures I have everything I need to revise effectively and confidently before exams.

Practice:
I believe that practice is key to success, so I spend a lot of time working through past exams and sample questions under timed conditions.

This helps me get used to the format and time constraints, as well as identify areas where I need further improvement. I also engage in active recall by testing myself and working with classmates for group study sessions, where we can quiz each other or discuss tricky concepts. If I’m stuck, I make sure to ask for help from teachers or peers to clear up any confusion.

My subject hacks to achieve a 99+ ATAR

English 

Like many of my peers, VCE English was one of my least favourite subjects. However, I knew the only way to improve was through consistent practice. I challenged myself to write multiple essays, setting deadlines for each one to ensure I stayed on track.

One of the key strategies I used was brainstorming with friends or classmates to discuss the key themes and ideas of each novel. This allowed me to see different perspectives and helped me form more well-rounded arguments for my essays. Thinking critically about each novel’s themes and taking the time to brainstorm ideas before writing was crucial.

I found that being original in my responses and formulating my own ideas, rather than relying on common interpretations, made my essays stand out.

In terms of note-taking, I kept a mix of written notes and visual aids to help me organise and remember important concepts. I created mind maps for each novel to summarise key themes, characters, and important quotes. This made it easier to quickly review key concepts when preparing for essays or SACs. I also made tables comparing different aspects of the texts, like character motivations or narrative structures, which helped me see patterns and relationships between ideas. After receiving feedback on my essays, I would carefully review comments from teachers and incorporate their suggestions into future drafts. This feedback loop allowed me to refine my writing and gradually improve my essay structure and argumentation.

Maths [Methods and Further Mathematics]

To achieve a 99+ ATAR, my approach to studying VCE Further Mathematics was fairly straightforward. First, I focused on understanding the theory, and then I practised applying it through exercises and past exams. I found it important to clarify challenging concepts early on, as this helped prevent confusion later. If I didn’t understand something, I would seek help from teachers or classmates to clear up any confusion. Then, I would immediately apply it to my work, reattempting problems and making sure I avoided the same mistakes in the future. This process was effective because it kept me accountable and allowed me to learn from both my mistakes and others’ insights.

In terms of note-taking, I compiled my notes in a detailed and organised way.

One tool that worked well for me was creating a book of mistakes, where I wrote down errors I made while working through problems.

I’d then analyse why I made the mistake and note down the correct approach. I also developed my bound reference early, following VCAA guidelines, and used it as a revision tool. My bound reference included key formulas for easy access (ehaving an annotated version was invaluable), reminders about common mistakes (like misreading axes or units), and a guide to key topics I might blank on during exams. I also included a section with past exam questions and solutions for quick revision. This reference became an essential resource for both study and during the exam.

My advice to Year 12 students wanting to achieve a 99+ ATAR

Make sure you take the time to enjoy your last year of high school – it’s truly one of the best years!

3 things you must do in Year 12

1. Look after yourself first! Sounds simple enough but amongst the hectic nature of SACs, extra-curricular activities. Know your limitations and stick to these. Make sure you know when to say no to things but also yes to opportunities that will enrich your life. 
2. Keep doing the things you love! It’s almost inhumanly possible to study continuously in an effective manner. Take breaks and fill your life with friends, family, hobbies and whatever else pleases. Having been studying for high school and now in my seventh year of university, I can’t stress this enough. 
3. Have confidence in yourself! Knowing that you’ve prepared for that exam or oral presentation to the best of your ability, and believing in the hard work you’ve put in over the course of the year, is crucial for maintaining a clear mind. When you’re faced with that inevitably difficult Methods question on the last page of your final exam, you’ll be able to take a moment, think it through, and trust that you can solve it.

3 things you must not do in Year 12

1. Compare! As the old saying goes, comparison is the thief of joy. Run your own race and don’t think about what your next-door neighbour is doing. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. 
2. Let obstacles bring you down! Facing challenges like a poor scoring SAC is inevitable, but it’s how you respond that matters. Instead of drowning in your sorrows, use it as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and improve. Be persistent and remember that setbacks are just stepping stones toward success.
3. Put pressure on yourself! It’s important to recognise the distinction between striving for success and overwhelming yourself with unrealistic expectations. While you’ll hear this time and time again, your ATAR doesn’t define you. There are always pathways to get where you want to be.