English (both standard and advanced), senior science and agriculture were among some of the exams that were completed this week, with students now gearing up to use the weekend to study for mathematics on Monday, October 23.

Taree High School executive principal Allison Alliston is confident the students have been given optimal preparation in the lead up to the examination period.

“They’re coming in every morning, some of them at 8 o’clock to do that final cramming.

"They’re touching base with their teachers, they’ve been sending information to them to see if they are on the right track.

"The teachers have been working really hard to get them to the line,” Mrs Alliston said.

Mrs Alliston said students found the English exam particularly challenging.

She also had some helpful advice for all students.

"As I said to them last term when they were graduating, they’ve got to maintain that healthy lifestyle, a good balance of preparing, a bit of leisure and still doing a bit of part time work,” she said.

Students were given opportunities to participate in relaxation workshops with the school’s youth outreach worker.

"It was just about focusing on the big picture but taking it into perspective that the HSC is not the end, it's an opening for opportunities in the future,” she said.

Student Ashley Kelly was among about 30 Taree High School students to sit the PD/H/PE exam.

He said his regular routine has been changed in order to balance study commitments.

"I've put that on hold for a bit while I’m studying but I've still got to maintain a lifestyle like going to the gym,” he said. 

He encouraged all students to study as much as they can and to avoid unnecessary stress.  Ashley hopes to receive an electrician apprenticeship after school.

Fellow student Brock Van Kampen has five exams remaining and also encouraged students to take as many breaks as necessary.

He hopes to study physiotherapy.