How I Scored Full Marks on Internal Assessments (Without Cramming) While Juggling 4 Assignments

Introduction

Year 12 assignments can feel like a high-stakes guessing game. You’re handed a task, but the path to full marks isn’t always clear. What if you misinterpret the criteria? What if you waste time rewriting sections? And when deadlines pile up, stress kicks in—especially when you’re balancing multiple assignments at once. I’ve been there. But after refining my approach, I consistently scored full marks on internal assessments without last-minute panic. The key? Strategy over stress. Here’s how I managed it:

1. Never Start Without a Plan

Year 12 isn’t about figuring out assignments from scratch—it’s about execution. You’ve done similar tasks before, and you have feedback from past work. Use it.

Before writing, break the assignment into sections and outline:

• What each part requires (check the rubric!).

• Key ideas or arguments you’ll include.

• How much time and effort each section requires.

Writing without a plan is like shooting arrows blindfolded. You might not believe it, but a 10-minute outline saves hours of rewriting later.

2. Schedule Backwards—And Stick to It

When juggling assignments, a little bit of organisation can go a long way. As soon as deadlines are announced:

1. Map out all commitments (exams, extracurriculars, other due dates).

2. Set mini-deadlines (e.g., "Finish research by X, draft by Y").

3. Assign focus days (e.g., Monday = Math assignment, Tuesday = English).

4. Schedule your breaks. Burnout kills efficiency.

   
   

3. Brainstorm First, Refine Later

Forget writing in order. Start by dumping all your ideas onto paper:

• Got a genius intro idea? Jot it down.

• Stuck on Section 2? Skip it and tackle Section 4 first.

This avoids "blank page paralysis" and lets you work with momentum. By year 12, you shouldn’t feel the need to write the assignment in strict chronological order, but rather, use your prior knowledge and expertise on the assignment as a whole and slowly chip away at each section with good idea after good idea.

4. Start Early

You always have more time at the start of the term than at the end. Even 30 minutes a day adds up. Instead of spending it all watching videos or playing games, it doesn’t hurt to put in a little bit of effort every so often to get ahead. Remember, the time you take to start an assignment early is time that you won’t have to spend later on when you have to juggle multiple pieces of assignment. Future-you will thank you when you’re not pulling all-nighters!

5. Work Together

Your teachers and mates are your best resource and you should get comfortable with the fact that they want to help you get a better mark.

• Ask teachers smart questions: "Would (xyz) be a good idea to talk about as one of the strengths of my report?"

• Swap drafts with friends: Fresh eyes catch errors you’ll miss.

It might be cliché, but Work Smarter, Not Harder

Full marks aren’t about luck or cramming. They’re about planning early, staying organised, and using feedback to refine your work. Enter the battle with a strategy and watch as your assignments get ticked off one by one.

Up next: How to write top-tier Research Investigations in the sciences. Follow for more!