Jackson appears to have avoided the dreaded second-season syndrome, helping Ulster to the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 and into the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup.
His progression at ten has no doubt been aided by having South African international scrum-half Ruan Pienaar alongside him.
But where last season might have been a case of Pienaar looking after his young half-back partner, Jackson insists that this year they have become a partnership of equals.
He said: "Ruan is definitely a good guy to have alongside you and last year he really helped my development.
"I had the feeling last season that he spent a lot of time carrying me because I didn't have much experience.
"We are much more used to playing with each other now, and it's showing on the pitch.
"He doesn't have to worry about my game now, and it seems to be working well for us.
"It's been a very good start to the season for us, and even though we've lost a couple of games, it's great to be in the quarter-finals in Europe and top of the Rabo."
Under new head coach Mark Anscombe Ulster have enjoyed a sensational season to date, lying 11 points clear at the top of the RaboDirect PRO12 with more than half the season gone now.
Jackson has helped himself to 67 points in seven domestic starts so far, and that form has seen him catch the attention of Ireland coach Declan Kidney.
He's still awaiting his first cap, but impressed in a non-capped clash with Fiji in the autumn, and was part of the Ireland squad ahead of the Six Nations.
And with the games increasing in importance as the season edges closer to the deciding stages, Jackson is aware that Ulster cannot afford to drop their intensity.
He added: "Getting the games last year really helped me when it comes to those big games again this year.
"We're really pleased with how we have done so far this season but we know that it won't count for anything if we can't keep it going.
"It's time we won some silverware, we've got ourselves into the European knockouts for the third season in a row, but we want to kick on from that.
"Ireland is always in the back of your mind but you know with the likes of Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O'Gara, there are two guys with a lot of experience.
"It's about making sure I take any opportunities I get and trying to play as well as I can in the camp.
"I didn't really know what to expect from international rugby before that Fiji game but we played really well and they didn't score, so I guess you can't ask for much more.
"There are a lot of experienced guys in there, so it's quite tough to start off. But you just have to get used to being vocal and speaking up, especially as a fly-half."
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