One of the biggest mistakes I see my students make when exams are approaching is creating a study schedule that is trying to fit too much into it. While it can feel productive and tempting to create a schedule that has you studying several hours everyday, unrealistic plans often lead to frustration and can overwhelm you. The key to creating a successful study schedule is making one that works for your lifestyle and afterschool commitments, which allows you to maintain consistency. Ive seen many students create timetables that are extremely ambitious, and when they arent checking off every task by the date they set, the unfinished tasks snowball until they become overwhelmed and quit studying altogether. A study schedule should challenge you, but it should also be realistic.

I first tell my students to block off any commitments that they have during the week. This includes any sport, extracurricular activities or family commitments that are non-negotiable. Once these are added to their schedule, you can see where study sessions realistically fit. Next, i try and break the time they have into manageable blocks. Rather than placing in the timetable to study for 3 hours straight, I tell them to aim for 30-60 minute sessions with breaks in between. It is also important to prioritise subjects. Spend more time on topics you find challenging and less time on areas where you already feel confident. I also encourage my students to be specific when they create their timetable and outline the specific tasks they want to complete that day, which makes sure that you have clear goals to work towards and can measure how you are tracking. Another really important point to remember when making a study schedule is to make sure to leave time for leisure and rest! Finally, remember that a study timetable is not set in stone. If something is not working, adjust it. The most effective timetable is one that is flexible and realistic.

Annaliese Lakis