The highlighter ink has run dry and the crumpled fluoro post-it notes have served their midnight cram session purpose.
It is crunch time for thousands of students who launch into their written examinations on October 18.
The first paper to hit knee-knocking students under sweaty desks is the compulsory English exam.
This will be followed by languages, music, then kicking into sciences and more next week, as the early exams jump off the ranks in the month-long period.
Academic experts however are reminding students that sleep and physical exercise should be maintained throughout the exam period, and that the HSC is not the end of the educational journey.
“Students often feel like their whole lives and futures ride on ATAR exams,” university assessment expert Rachael Jacobs said.
“No student should ever feel that their future is dependent on one set of exams. We have more university places than ever before. Employers are looking for more than good results.”
Clinical psychologist Viviana Wuthrich encourages a balance of study with rest.
“Students who are more likely to experience stress at other times are most at risk of heightened distress during major exams,” she said.
“Heightened distress is also associated with perceived pressure from teachers, parents or students
