Game Plan Activated: Coaching Exam Prep Like a Finals Match

📝 Game Plan Activated: Coaching Exam Prep Like a Finals Match

Week 1: Know Your Opponent

With just over a month until Year 12 exams begin, now is the time to shift gears from passive worry to strategic action. September isn’t just footy finals season—it’s the beginning of your own championship run. And like any great team, success starts with knowing your opponent.

🎯 Scout the Field: Access Past Exams

Before you dive into revision, get familiar with the terrain.

• Download past VCAA exams for each subject

• Study the structure, question types, and marking guides

• Treat them like match footage—what patterns emerge? Where do students lose marks? What plays work?

This isn’t about memorising answers. It’s about decoding the game.

🗓️ Build Your Calendar: Six Weeks of Strategy

Create a calendar that covers the next six weeks. Include:

• 🏫 School hours

• 💼 Work shifts

• 📚 Study blocks

• 🏉 Footy finals (yes, they count—schedule them as decompression rituals)

• 📝 Practice exams (many schools run these during the holidays—add them now)

Tip: Use colour coding to highlight different types of tasks. Make it visual, make it yours.

🧠 Break Down the Exam Structure

Each subject has its own rhythm.

• How many sections?

• What’s the weighting?

• Are there short answers, essays, multiple choice?

• What’s the time allocation?

Understanding this is like knowing how many quarters are in the game—and when to sprint.

🏆 Reframe the Challenge: Legacy, Not Just Marks

Exams aren’t just about scores. They’re about resilience, preparation, and showing up.

• Every study session is a training drill

• Every mistake is data, not failure

• Every ritual—snack, playlist, planner—is part of your legacy

You’re not just a student. You’re a strategist.

📄 Bonus Resource: Subject Scouting Sheet

Want to go deeper? Download the Subject Scouting Sheet to:

• Track past paper performance

• Identify weak zones

• Plan targeted revision

• Celebrate small wins

💬 Closing Pep Talk

This week, activate your game plan. Scout your subjects. Build your calendar. Reframe your mindset. Whether you’re going full Leigh Matthews with fearless focus or pulling a Tim Cahill and rising when it matters most, this is your finals campaign—and it starts today.