“Failing to prepare….you’re preparing to fail”
By making a study timetable, you will be preparing for success in your studies. Using a study timetable also enables you to visualize what you’ve got in your schedule for the day and across the week. Most importantly, preparing a study timetable will ensure that you don’t forget any upcoming exams or assessments. Doing well on an exam involves preparation, which means developing a schedule so that you can study material over time rather than the night before an exam. How can students put all those effective strategies together to develop a coherent study plan? Make a study schedule!A study plan is an effective way to help you navigate through your education, and hold you accountable for your own learning outcomes.
Planning a Better Study Schedule
Tip 1: Check your current schedule – Assess your current class schedule and how you currently spend your time.
When assessing your current schedule you should:
- Determine how many hours a week you currently study
- Evaluate how many hours a week you currently apply to entertainment (for example include sports and social commitments).
- Do some quick math to see what you could cut from your schedule. A lot of students tend to find they spend a lot of time on entertainment, you can start there (but still ensure to schedule in some downtime!).
Tip 2: Set your academic goal – Setting an academic goal will allow you to be accountable for every action you take throughout the semester. Importantly, this will draw your attention to the effort required to achieve the goal you set for yourself.
Tip 3: Plan a schedule of balanced activities such that enough and appropriate time has been allotted to every activity.
Tip 4: Plan enough time to study each subject depending on your priority list– Prepare a priority list based on how comfortable you are with the content in a particular subject. The content of the subject that you are not familiar with should be number 1 on your priority list.
Tip 5: Study at a set time and in a consistent place – Establishing habits of study is extremely important. Knowing what and when you are going to study saves a lot of time in making decisions and retracing your steps to get the necessary materials, etc. Avoid generalizations in your schedule, such as “study chemistry” at certain regular hours. Instead, plan to “complete ten equations” or “read and take notes on chapter 6 for Chemistry.” Treat your study time as you would a class: don’t miss it unless you’re sick, have a family emergency, etc. It should be a permanent part of your daily routine.
Tip 6: Study soon after your class – Time spent soon after a class, while it is still fresh in your mind, will help retain the content longer. By doing this, it will be easier to transfer memory from short-term to long-term.
Tip 7: Limit your study time to no more than 2 hours at a time – after 1-2 hours of study, you begin to tire easily and lose concentration. Taking a break and switching to another course will provide the change you require.
Tip 8: Trade time… Don’t steal it – When any unexpected event arises and clashes with the time you had allotted for studying, immediately decide where you can find time to study the same and put it on your schedule.
Tip 9: Make notes – write short phrases, annotations, etc. that help you remember the content with ease and recall faster.
By, Tejashree S, Senior and Middle School Science Teacher, Ekya JP Nagar
