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Thinking about applying to Melbourne High School? Here's how I prepared for the selective entry exam and made the most at one of Melbourne’s best high schools.
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Hi, I’m Kritheek—a proud Melbourne High School grad, now tackling a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Between teaching Maths and Science at Matrix Education Box Hill, I’ve picked up a few powerful lessons along the way. If you’re aiming for Melbourne High (or just want to crush your goals) here’s exactly how you can make it happen.
Name: Kritheek Beemadi
School: Melbourne High School
University goal: Masters of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Melbourne
ATAR: 95.9
Table of contents:
Algorithmics (HESS): 35
Biology: 43
Chemistry: 40
English Language: 34
Maths Methods: 45
Specialist Mathematics: 48
I joined Melbourne High School (MHS) after completing the Selective High School Exam in 2017. It was some of the greatest years of my life.
Academically, the transition wasn’t too difficult. The only difference was that MHS put more significance on extracurricular activities, hence their school motto, “More than just marks”. We were encouraged to participate in music, sport or any other interests that we had.
I was involved in many clubs, such as:
MHS has a lot to offer. Yes, it has a deserved reputation for its academic excellence, but the school experience is more than just marks. If you find yourself a student at Melbourne’s best selective school, be sure to live your life as more than just the marks you gain.
To get myself out of that rut, I used various techniques that I continue to use years later. These are: Pre-study, spaced repetition and study groups.
One of the best things I did was pre-study, skimming the content before it was taught.
This helped me form a mental “map” of what was coming. I didn’t have to understand everything straight away, but at least I wasn’t seeing the material for the first time in class—I was revisiting it. That turned lessons into revision sessions and made me more confident and engaged.
I used tools like the Cambridge Checkpoints booklets, past school tests and SACs, and even past exam papers when I could get them. Each weekend, I would:
Skim the textbook or past notes for the upcoming topic
Highlight key headings
Jot down quick notes or questions
I’d walk into class ready to ask good questions, making discussions way more useful. Over time, this habit also made it easier to identify weak points early and get help before I fell behind.
Cramming felt like a rite of passage at Melbourne High School, but I found spaced repetition to be way more effective (and less stressful).
I used Anki to make flashcards with definitions, formulas, and key ideas in Chemistry and Biology. The app would quiz me daily, with harder cards showing up more often and easier ones spaced out over time.
I also wrote physical flashcards and revision summaries that I would revisit every week. I made it a routine to do 15–20 minutes of spaced review each night before bed, rotating through subjects.
I could recall key content quickly in SACs and exams because I’d reviewed it just enough to make it stick in long-term memory.
MHS has not only a strong academic culture but also a strong social culture. One of the best ways I leveraged that was by forming study groups.
I’d meet with 2–3 mates weekly to:
Go over tough questions together
Do timed practice tests
Teach mini “lessons” on a topic we’re strong in and then quiz each other
We even used Google Docs to build shared notes and past SAC collections. It built accountability and motivation, especially during Term 3 when the pressure ramped up.
During the holidays, it was really easy to fall into “rest mode” and suddenly lose all my study momentum.
To fight that, I used habit stacking — a technique where you attach a new habit (like studying) to an existing one.
Here’s what it looked like:
30 mins of Chemistry after breakfast
Essay planning while waiting for the kettle
Flashcards before brushing my teeth
Because the cue was already built into my daily routines, the habit stuck.
This worked especially well because it removed the need for “motivation”.
I didn’t wait to feel like studying. I just treated it like brushing my teeth or showering. And because each task was short and intentional, it didn’t burn me out.
Even on days when I wanted a full break, doing something small kept the study streak alive. Over time, these little sessions stacked up into serious progress without ever feeling overwhelming.
One of the biggest confidence boosts I got during the holidays came from timed practice sessions.
Instead of just “going over content,” I started simulating real SAC or exam conditions.
Each session, I’d:
Pick a full section from a past exam
Set a timer and sit it like the real thing
Mark my answers and note what tripped me up
It kept me motivated because I could see improvement week by week. I’d mark each attempt, track my score, and reflect on what tripped me up.
Holidays were the perfect time to build this habit because there was no school stress—just me and the clock.
The first thing I did was map out a realistic study schedule.
I broke down my time by subject and started with my weakest areas—English and writing. I also built in “review weeks” to revisit topics and avoid forgetting content.
Starting early helped me spread out my workload and avoid burnout in the final weeks.
One of the best things I did was repeatedly work through mock exam papers. These helped me get faster and more accurate under time pressure.
I also had Matrix tutoring for the English and writing sections. It wasn’t just about grammar—it helped me immensely learn how to structure arguments, write under pressure, and think on my feet.
I also took part in mock exam days from companies like Hendersons, which were basically full-length practice exams under timed, exam-like conditions. These were marked by assessors, who will then sit with you and explain your mistakes.
As the exam got closer, I moved from just “studying” to practising—and that made all the difference. I would:
Sit past papers with a timer, no breaks
Mark them straight after
Go through every mistake carefully, and figure out why I got it wrong.
For maths and reasoning questions, I focused on refining my problem-solving strategies. For reading and writing, I worked on boosting my reading speed and writing clear, concise essays with strong arguments.
I wasn’t aiming for perfection the first time, but improvement every time.
Surround yourself with the right people, use your time wisely, and remember that your high school years are all about growth and character development outside the classroom as much as it is in the classroom.
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Written by Guest Author
We have regular contributions to our blog from our Tutor Team and high performing Matrix Students. Come back regularly for these guest posts to learn their study hacks and insights!
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