Achieving your QCE will usually take two years. During that time, it’s important to manage your time and study commitments, but also maintain your health and wellbeing so you can stay on track and achieve your best work.
Organising yourself and your work
Creating a comfortable environment and a routine for study makes it more enjoyable and puts you in charge.
Check our tips to get organised to make sure you play the long game and don’t feel overwhelmed when your assessments are due.
Effective academic practices and study tips
With so much information at our fingertips today, it can be tempting to cut corners.
When you’re working on assessments, it’s important the work you do is your own and you reference the work of others where needed. Your school will help you to use its preferred referencing system but you can also increase your understanding about good academic practices.
Visit our get academic page for study tips to help improve your learning, and information about good research habits, including sourcing appropriate information, copyright, referencing, drafting and working with others.
The QCAA’s academic integrity course steps you through the basics in more detail. You can access it via the Student Portal.
Health and wellbeing
Looking after your physical and mental health is important, regardless of what stage you’re at in life.
Throughout high school, there can be lots of different pressures on students, including study, part-time work, relationships, family commitments and sport or extra-curricular activities.
There are lots of things you can do to maintain a positive outlook and keep your mind and body healthy.
See our get healthy and happy page for information and useful links.
Health and wellbeing tips with Dr Judith Locke
Watch our series of videos featuring clinical psychologist, Dr Judith Locke, for practical tips and advice to help you study effectively and maintain a healthy balance. They focus on:
- study balance
- procrastination
- limiting distractions
- transforming information
- perfectionism
- exam stress
- sleep.
Advice from past students
Thousands of Queensland students achieve their QCE each year.
Even if you have your own study strategies, it can be helpful to get advice from past students to see what worked for them.
Asking for help
High school is an exciting time, but it can sometimes be challenging.
When you’re juggling multiple things in your life, it can feel like a struggle. School stress, work pressures, relationships, family, friends and other concerns can make you feel as if you aren’t coping and may impact on your schoolwork.
It’s important to know you’re not alone and there is help available if you need it.
Asking for help is not a weakness. It puts you in control and is a positive step towards self-care.
The get support section offers information about stress and anxiety, as well as links to useful websites, phone and online support services.
