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How To Make an Effective Study Plan for the Entire Semester?

Planning for your semester is not complicated, but it is very important, in order to have a better control over your time and your studies during the examination period. Most of the students would not pay so much attention to their studies during the semester and end up spending 15+ hours per day studying weeks before the final exams. If you feel you are more of the second type of student, don’t worry, I got you covered too. Read my article on how to plan for studying during the examination period (I have done that plenty of times myself too in the “younger” age). I went back to school (for a master’s degree) being a single mom with two kids, so I had to better plan my studies, as I couldn’t afford spending 15+ hours per days stuffing my brain with all the information at once.

What is included in a study plan?

A study plan should include the following:

  • The number of weeks of the semester
  • The number of courses taken during the semester
  • The name of the courses
  • Number of Labs/seminars
  • Number of lectures (hours)
  • Pensum (study material for each course)
  • Overview of the projects/reports required to finish before exam period
  • Mandatory exercises/tasks
  • Exams dates

How do I set up a study timetable

Now that you have an overview of how many courses you have, what pensum each course includes, that mandatory tasks/reports/projects you must fulfill before the end of the semester, it’s time to create your timetable.

  • Create a Monday to Saturday timetable sheet. Why Saturday? That is my recommendation for those who aim for higher grades/gpa. Of course, it is up to you how you will split your week, but if you work part time during the week, or have kids, then stretching the studies over a longer period would fit your schedule better.  Alternatively, you can put out more study hours during the weekend, and then enjoy the entire weekend.
  • In the new timetable sheet created, add the mandatory classes you have to attend. Find where you have breaks between different hours, and which ones you can use to work on your reports/ tasks and reading.
  • Create a separate timetable for the examination period. Here, your calendar will free up from all the mandatory classes, so you can focus on reading and studying.
  • Make a list with the chapters from each course (pensum) and divide it over the available time until the exam day. Do this for all the courses.
  • Start studying. Cross a line whenever you are done with one chapter and prepare small rewards for yourself.

I went back to school, as a single mom with two kids, so I had to better plan my studies, as I couldn’t afford spending 15+ hours per days stuffing my brain with all the information at once.

Jolanda H.

Is 1 days enough to study for exams?

The short answer is NO, the long answer is still NO, however, in some cases in can be enough if what you aim for is just a passing grade (that in the case you have attended all the mandatory classes throughout the semester).

Is 1 week enough to study for exams?

When used wisely, one week might be enough to prepare for 2 exams, on 2 different courses. Of course, here depends on your attendance throughout of the semester. If you have attended the classes, and done your homework, work on those reports/tasks, then 3 to 4 days would be enough to revise your notes, and create summaries of your pensum. On average 3 and a half days would suffice for one course.

However, if you have not been attending the classes as much as you wished (let’s say you work part time, or you have kids), then 3 days would be enough to get a passing grade (if you really study around 12 hours per day). Otherwise, you might need the entire week for just one subject.

If you need help in creating a personalized study plan for your courses, send an email to contact@quantumleapgrow.com with the title study plan template, and I will be sending over  the timetable template that helped me over the years.

Also, don’t forget to join our community on Facebook and ask for help. Looking forward to meeting you there.