How do I make a study timetable for my exams?
- 1Add each subject with its exam date, number of topics or chapters, difficulty and priority (or tap “Try an example”).
- 2Set your start date, study hours a day, session length, days off and revision days.
- 3Read your timetable week by week and tick each session when it's done.
- 4Print it, download it for Excel, or add it to Google, Apple or Outlook calendar.
How does the study planner share out the time?
- 01Sessions a day = hours a day ÷ session length (rounded, equal sessions)
- 02Weight = topics × difficulty (1, 1.5, 2) × priority (0.75, 1, 1.25)
- 03Learning sessions ∝ weight, all before the subject's revision days
- 04Revision = the last N study days before each exam, ending with a past paper
- 05Quick reviews = each topic again 1, 3 and 7 days after you learn it
First, the planner keeps whole revision days just before each exam, starting with the nearest exam. Then it shares the remaining study sessions between subjects by weight — more topics, harder and higher-priority subjects get more — without ever planning a subject after its own revision starts. If an exam comes soon, that subject gets the early sessions it needs and later exams get the rest. Day by day, each subject keeps an even pace through its own time, so your days mix two or three subjects instead of one subject for a week; a subject that can't wait any longer goes first.
The plan follows two of the best-supported study methods. Spaced (distributed) practice — coming back to material over several days — beats cramming the same hours together, so every topic you learn returns as a short review 1, 3 and 7 days later. Practice testing is the other: revision ends with a timed past paper. The weights and intervals are sensible defaults, not exact science — adjust the hours, difficulty and priority until the plan feels right for you.
Good to know
- Be honest about your hours: a plan you can keep (2–3 hours on school days) beats a perfect plan you give up on.
- Use the quick reviews to test yourself — close the book and write down what you remember, then check.
- Mark one day a week as a day off; rest helps memory and keeps you going until the last exam.
- If you fall behind, change the start date to today — the plan is rebuilt around the time you have left.
Study planner — common questions
How do I make a study timetable for exams?
List every subject with its exam date and the number of chapters, decide how many hours a day you can study, keep a few days before each exam for revision, and share the rest of the time by how hard and how important each subject is. This planner does those steps for you and lays them out day by day.
How many hours a day should I study for exams?
It depends on your level and how much time is left, but 2–4 focused hours on school days and more in the final weeks is common. Focus matters more than hours — use short breaks (for example the Pomodoro method) and sleep well.
What is spaced repetition?
Reviewing what you learnt again after growing gaps — for example 1, 3 and 7 days later — instead of all at once. Research shows spacing your study gives much better long-term memory than cramming the same total time.
How many days before the exam should I start revising?
Keep at least 1–2 full days just before each exam for revision and a timed past paper; for big exams like board exams, start revising each subject a week or two before. Set “Revision days” to match.
What if I miss a day?
Change “Start on” to today. The planner rebuilds the timetable around the time you have left. Ticks you already made stay on the sessions that still match.
Is my plan saved?
Yes, in this browser on this device (local storage). Nothing is uploaded. Download the CSV or calendar file to keep a copy or use it on another device.
Sources
- Cepeda, N. J. et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: a review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3)
- Dunlosky, J. et al. (2013). Improving students' learning with effective learning techniques. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 14(1)
- Roediger, H. L. & Karpicke, J. D. (2006). Test-enhanced learning. Psychological Science, 17(3)
- RFC 5545 — Internet Calendaring and Scheduling (iCalendar)
Formulas last reviewed: September 30, 2026 ·How we check our formulas