SMART Goal Setting for the HSC

It’s a new year and lots of us are setting goals for the year ahead, and I know that lots of you are setting some fantastic goals for school. Recently, I’ve been working with my students to set SMART and Present goals. Learn more about how to set SMART and Present goals below.

Download the worksheets that I’ve created at the links below.

Smart and Present Goals

When setting goals it’s important to write them in present tense. By doing so, it feels as if you’ve already achieved them – which helps motivate you to do exactly that. It also helps you to visualise the goal, which makes it more real and more believable, helping you turn it into reality.

It’s also valuable, when setting goals, to follow a SMART approach. SMART goals help you develop a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how best to do it. The clearer the vision, the easier it is to see and feel the goal and, ultimately, to accomplish it.

Specific

Specific goals are clear and detailed. They answer the following questions:

• What do I want to achieve?

• Why do I want to achieve it?

• Who is involved?

• Where does the goal take place?

• When will it happen?

Measurable

You need to be able to measure your goal, so you know when you’ve achieved it. Ask yourself, how will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable

Attainable goals are goals within reach. Ask yourself, how can I achieve this goal?

Relevant

Relevant goals are meaningful goals. If a goal is relevant, it is worth being pursued. Ask yourself, why do I want to achieve this goal?

Timely

It’s important to give goals a time frame. This way you can plan the steps needed to achieve them and the time it will take for each step. By putting a time frame on each goal, you’re also motivating yourself to achieve it, because you set yourself a deadline to work towards. Ask yourself, when will I complete this goal? What can I do today to get started?