Your Back-to-School Checklist for Year 12

Here are the things to do before you go back to school, especially if you’re starting Year 12! It is so important that you set yourself up for a successful year, and these tips will help you with that.

1. Organise Your Resources

Having a to-do list makes it so much easier to stay on top of things!

It’s hard to succeed if you don’t have the right tools for the job. Make sure you’ve got all the textbooks, stationery, and online materials you’ll need. This includes subject-specific items like calculators for math, art supplies for studio art, or lab coats for science.

Alyssa’s Tip: Wait for your first class before buying any textbooks. There’s a reason second-hand markets are full of barely touched books — not every teacher uses them. Most of the time, content is included in class PowerPoints or you can share and airdrop digital textbooks with classmates. Save yourself the money (and unnecessary weight in your bag) until you know for sure which books are essential.

2. Clean Your Study Space

A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind, and no one wants that in Year 12. Create a study environment that’s clean, quiet, and well-lit, so you can focus when it’s time to work.

If your desk has been a dumping ground over the holidays, take a couple of hours to sort through everything. Clear off anything you don’t need and make space for essentials like your laptop, notebooks, and stationery. Having a tidy setup makes it so much easier to sit down and actually study — no distractions, no excuses.

Think about adding a personal touch, like a motivational quote or a photo that inspires you. Just make sure it’s not so distracting that you end up staring at it instead of doing your work!

3. Do Your Holiday Homework

We get it, holiday homework isn’t fun. But it’s a necessary evil if you want to start the year on the right foot. Walking into class already behind can create unnecessary stress, especially if you know your teacher will be checking who’s done it.

If you’ve been putting it off, set aside a few focused sessions this week to knock it out. You don’t have to make it perfect, but at least give it a solid effort. Remember, staying on top of tasks now will save you a lot of headaches down the line.

4. Download Study Designs for All Your Subjects

This might be the most underrated tip on this list, but it’s absolutely essential. Study designs outline exactly what can and can’t be tested in your subjects, so being familiar with them is a game changer.

Save a copy of each study design to your desktop or somewhere easy to access. Highlight key knowledge and outcomes so you know where to focus your study time. When preparing for SACs or exams, this document should always be your first point of reference. Trust us, it will keep you focused and stop you from wasting time on things that don’t matter.

5. Get Your Sleeping Schedule Back on Track

Holidays often mean late nights and sleep-ins, but you can’t afford to drag that routine into Year 12. Sleep is one of the most important factors in staying focused and managing stress.

Start going to bed and waking up at consistent times this week to ease yourself back into a school routine. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night — your brain will thank you. If you struggle to fall asleep earlier, try winding down with a book or your English text (fastest way to knock off from boredom fr) instead of scrolling on your phone.

6. Organise Your Desktop

Your desktop is the digital equivalent of your study space, and it’s just as important to keep it tidy. You don’t want to start Year 12 with a screen full of random files from Year 11 — it’s distracting and makes it harder to find what you actually need.

Take 20 minutes to sort through everything. Create a single folder for Year 11 work and move it all in there. Then, set up new folders for each of your Year 12 subjects so you’re ready to hit the ground running. While you’re at it, check that all your apps are working, update any software you’ll be using, and maybe even change your desktop background to something fresh and motivating.

Year 12 is all about preparation, and starting the year with these tasks done will give you a massive advantage. If you’re behind on anything, don’t panic — focus on catching up one step at a time. The key is to start organised so you can stay on top of things as the workload ramps up. You’ve got this!