To make a study schedule, list every exam and deadline, block out your fixed commitments, then place short, specific study sessions in the free time, spread across days rather than crammed together, with self-testing built in. Plan the week on one page, review it every Sunday, and leave some slack for the unexpected.
Here’s a step-by-step method, a sample weekly schedule, and the two study techniques research rates most highly.
How to Make a Study Schedule in 7 Steps
- List every deadline. Write down each exam, assignment and project with its date. This is the backbone of the plan.
- Block out fixed time first. Add classes, work shifts, commuting, meals, exercise and sleep to your week. What’s left is your real study time, and it’s usually less than you think.
- Estimate the workload. For each subject, list the topics to cover and roughly how many hours each needs. Give more time to harder subjects and anything worth more marks.
- Work backwards from each deadline. If an exam is in four weeks and needs 20 hours, that’s about 5 hours a week, not 20 hours in the last week.
- Make sessions specific. “Biology” is vague; “Biology: practice questions on cell respiration, 45 min” tells you exactly what to do when you sit down.
- Mix in breaks and buffer time. Study in blocks of about 25 to 50 minutes with short breaks, and leave one or two empty slots a week to catch up when something runs over.
- Review weekly. Each weekend, check what you finished, move what you didn’t, and plan the next week.
Sample Weekly Study Schedule
An example for a student with classes on weekdays and three exams coming up:
| Day | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Maths: practice problems (45 min) | History: flashcards on key dates (25 min) |
| Tuesday | Biology: summarise chapter 4 from memory (45 min) | Maths: redo mistakes from Monday (25 min) |
| Wednesday | History: practice essay plan (45 min) | Biology: flashcards (25 min) |
| Thursday | Maths: past-paper questions (45 min) | History: flashcards (25 min) |
| Friday | Biology: practice questions (45 min) | Free / buffer |
| Saturday | Timed past paper, any subject (90 min) | Review mistakes (30 min) |
| Sunday | Weekly review and plan next week (20 min) | Rest |
Notice that each subject appears several times a week in short sessions, rather than once in one long block. That’s deliberate, as the next section explains.
The Two Techniques That Work Best
In a major 2013 review of learning research, psychologist John Dunlosky and colleagues rated ten popular study techniques. Only two earned their top rating of “high utility”:
- Practice testing: quizzing yourself with flashcards, past papers or practice questions, rather than just rereading. Recalling information strengthens memory far more than seeing it again.
- Distributed practice: spreading study for a subject over several sessions and days instead of cramming it into one. This is also called spaced repetition.
Popular habits such as highlighting and rereading were rated “low utility”. They feel productive but do relatively little for long-term memory. So a good study schedule isn’t just about hours: it should put self-testing sessions on repeat across the week.
Timing Tips
- Try the Pomodoro Technique. Work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, and take a longer break after four rounds. It makes starting easier and keeps focus high.
- Put hard subjects at your best time of day. If you’re sharpest in the morning, that’s where maths goes, not after a full day of classes.
- Protect sleep. Memories are consolidated during sleep, so all-nighters work against you.
- Start earlier than feels necessary. Spacing only works if there are enough days to space sessions across.
Put It on Paper (or a Spreadsheet)
A schedule you can see is one you’re more likely to follow. The free Study Planner gives you a ready-made layout for exams, assignments and weekly sessions, with weekly and monthly summaries. Fill it in online, download it as Excel, or print a blank copy. If you’d rather plan your whole day around study, try the Daily Planner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours a day should I study?
It depends on your course and deadlines, but consistent shorter sessions beat occasional marathons. Two to four focused hours a day, spread across several subjects, is a realistic target for many students during exam preparation.
How far in advance should I start studying for an exam?
For a major exam, start at least two to four weeks ahead so you can space out study sessions and revisit each topic several times. For finals covering a whole course, start earlier.
Is it better to study one subject a day or several?
Several. Spreading each subject across the week, and mixing topics within a subject, leads to better long-term retention than studying one subject in a single long block.
What is the best study method?
According to Dunlosky and colleagues’ 2013 review, practice testing and distributed (spaced) practice are the most effective of the common techniques. Highlighting and rereading are among the least effective.
Plan your exams and weekly sessions with the free Study Planner.