As the September/October 2025 school holidays approach, many Year 11 and 12 students face the same challenge: how do you slow down, recharge, and still keep your HSC study momentum going? It’s tempting to shut the books and “switch off” completely. But HSC coaching research shows that light, consistent study habits during breaks can dramatically improve your recall, reduce stress, and help you re-enter Term 4 with confidence.

At ACE HSC Tuition, we explore and approve of science-backed strategies and simple routines endorsed by Australian universities and educational institutions that will help you balance rest with progress.

The Power of a Flexible Study Routine

You don’t need to schedule marathon study days over your holidays. In fact, a light but consistent structure works best.

According to Dr Study Learning, students who continue regular study during holidays retain more knowledge and perform better in their return assessments. Meanwhile, The University of Queensland recommends a break-friendly routine with flexible hours, morning study blocks, and shorter tasks to maintain cognitive engagement.

💡 Try this: Set aside 1–2 hours of focused study in the morning, leaving your afternoons free. Use weekends as true rest days or light review sessions only.

Use the Pomodoro or 52/17 Study Technique

Ever feel like you sit for hours but get nothing done? That’s where break-based study cycles come in. The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of study, 5 minutes of break) or 52/17 method (52 minutes of study, 17 minutes of break) is proven to prevent burnout and boost concentration.

James Cook University outlines the benefits of this structure in their official study skills resources, encouraging students to treat study like training sessions, intense but limited.

The University of Sydney agrees: using structured breaks helps reduce cortisol levels and improves memory consolidation.

Visualise and Track your HSC Study Goals

Holiday breaks are a perfect time to pause and reset your goals. Write them down. Track them. Cross them off.

Study Australia recommends using visual tools like calendars, mind maps, or Kanban boards to track progress. Setting micro-goals over holidays (e.g., “Revise one essay structure” or “Do 5 maths problems per day”) boosts motivation and builds confidence.

💡 Pro tip: Stick your goals where you can see them, on your wall, bathroom mirror, or phone lock screen

Change your Study Environment

Routine can become a rut. A change of scenery, even once a week, can refresh your mindset.

UQ’s study success resources suggest alternating between quiet zones, libraries, outdoor spaces, and even different seats in the same room to activate different parts of the brain and reduce distraction fatigue.

💡Try this: Create two distinct “zones” in your home, one for light reading and one for timed practice exams.

Stay Accountable With your ACE HSC Tutor or Peer

Don’t study in isolation. The best way to stay on track is to share your plan with someone, a tutor, study buddy, or even a parent.

Ask your ACE HSC Tuition tutor for help designing a personalised holiday study plan. They can recommend a weekly revision schedule to monitor progress and tailor revision for your Term 4 and final exam goals. For students enrolled in ACE HSC Tuition or via online HSC tutoring, understand that accountability boosts follow-through and prevents procrastination.

Rest Is Productive During the School Break

It might seem counterintuitive, but quality rest improves the effectiveness of your study.

The University of Sydney emphasises that strategic breaks allow your brain to process and store what you’ve learned. Meanwhile, FSEdu warns that skipping rest can lead to fatigue, anxiety, and lower academic performance.

💡 Rest tip: Plan a full “tech-free” day during the break to unplug and reset your brain.

Build Good Study Habits—Not Cram Sessions

You don’t need to sprint during the holidays. Instead, build a rhythm.

Dr Study Learning recommends that high school students aim for consistency—not intensity—during downtime. This prevents the dreaded “restart slump” when Term 4 resumes.

💡 Start simple: A daily 20-minute review session is enough to keep your brain in gear and your momentum intact.

Ready to Stay Ahead These School Holidays?

Holidays shouldn’t be a pause on learning; they’re a chance to level up without the pressure of daily schoolwork. With flexible routines, powerful tools like Pomodoro, and the support of experienced tutors, you can return from break more prepared than ever.

ACE HSC Tuition offers tailored support for Year 11 and Year 12 students through our HSC tutoring centres and online HSC tutoring programs. Whether you’re seeking guidance in maths, chemistry, physics, or English, our expert HSC coaching team is here to help.

Ask your ACE HSC tutor about your personalised study plan or enrol in our holiday HSC coaching program today.