The Board of Studies Teaching & Education Standards NSW (BOTES) says that across the state, 69,350 students are on track to complete their HSC this year, the highest number on record.

That means tens of thousands of students probably barely slept a wink last night, either cramming for the first exam on the HSC timetable – English at 10.20am – or tossing and turning in their beds nervously counting down the hours to the first exam starting.

It may come across as trite advice to our 2016 cohort, but it is important they remember that literally millions of people have completed HSC since it was introduced in NSW in 1967 – and have survived it.

While the HSC is the most important school test students face, it is also important to remember that it is not a gauge of success in life overall.

A poor result in the HSC exam does not end hopes of successful academic career or vocation.

Successful people find a way to succeed.

This time of year brings out the many tips for people to cope with HSC pressures.

For students, the tips include doing things that are not just study, such as spending time with friends.

Experts suggest students get exercise, keep up with their sports, eat healthy foods and maintain healthy sleeping patterns.

Staying up all night to cram and then being too tired to concentrate in an exam is counter-productive.

Parents are urged not to ram home the importance of the HSC but to support them, such as giving them time off from doing the dishes after tea, providing a quiet and comfortable place in which to study and keeping calm themselves.

Here are some fun statistics to add to the overload of information for students: the top 10 first names of students are Joshua, Emily, Jack, Matthew, James, Daniel, Thomas, Jessica, Lachlan and Nicholas.

The top 10 family names are: Smith, Nguyen, Lee, Chen, Brown, Williams, Tran, Jones, Li and Wilson.

Good luck to all HSC students and congratulations on (almost) completing their school education. Step confidently into the exams with faith in your preparation, but also with the knowledge they are not the only assessment of worth.