The compulsory English test signals the start of the three-week exam period and the countdown to the end of the teenager’s schooling.

After two weeks at home studying for her HSC, Laura Sharp says she is ready to get them underway.

VIDEO: Orange Anglican Grammar School students ahead of year 12 exams:

The OAGS year 12 school captain has five exams to get through and admits she is “feeling the pressure a little bit”.

“I’ve been trying to study hard and cope with the stress by taking breaks to go for a run,” she said.

Eyeing a career in rural real estate, Laura credits school counsellor Natalie Daugherty with helping get her through the year.

Her fellow year 12 captain Hamish Bracey said Mrs Daugherty and staff tutorials throughout the break have been instrumental in allowing him to get to his zen state.

“I don’t get too stressed about the exams, it’s just another test,” he said. 

With a flower farming job lined up at Mayfarm Flowers in Nashdale next year, Hamish acknowledges he has more reason to relax than most of his classmates.

His teacher Erica Kerridge says she feels a bit of pressure to have the three Business Studies students she has taught perform well.

“By the time they get to year 12 they’re almost like my own kids,” she said.

“If they use their common sense to think before they answer the question, they have the content and writing skills already.”

Mrs Kerridge said her students should know by now that HSC is not the be all and end all.