How to Prepare a Timetable for Exam Preparation

Exam preparations are an awfully deceiving foe; they make you think you have enough time left to shirk it off till it’s too late and you resort to brain cramming (and the headaches they cause!). Your brain takes in and retains more when you are stress free, and utilizing a timetable aids in managing your time effectively. It also maximizes your productivity, and allows you to carry on your daily activities smoothly as well as keep yourself on track with the books. Here are some handy steps on preparing a good timetable for your exam preparations.


1. Create your timetable:

Prepare a timetable with columns labelled Date, Time and Subject. Timetables can be drawn up, created via certain word programs or even downloaded from certain sites (Pinterest, Examtime). Note down your exam times and basic regular activities such as times for lunch, work, exercise, shower, your favorite television shows, etc. Maintaining a fixed period of sleep regularly would also aid in increasing your productivity. Some students may be early workers or late nighters; work out which time of day gives you the best energy and concentration and allocate most of your study workload there.

2. Allow some fun commitments:

A drab monotonous routine will bore you quickly; add in some extra curriculum or upcoming social events to brighten it up and keep you motivated. However, be realistic, and do not add activities that drain you of energy or take away valuable study time. A well planned out timetable cuts down on stress because you are more aware of your activities.

3. Chalk out your study:

This depends on how much of your workload you still have left and how many days are remaining till the exam, as well an approximate understanding of your rate of study.  Prioritize the subjects that require more preparation and compare the number of hours you need to cover the syllabi with the hours in your timetable. Allocate periods of time for each subject everyday and increase each period with every coming week till the exams. Study in order of last to first; revising subjects you will have to deal with later initially and then gradually taking up subjects that are more relevant around the beginning of the exam schedule.

4. Study in depth:

Make sure you allocate enough time to deal with each subject comprehensively. First deal with finishing the subject syllabus (preferably from the toughest chapters to the easiest) and then skim through a few books of the subject to add to your knowledge bank. It is essential to keep time to solve past year exam papers of each subject to give yourself a feel of the exam structure and questions.

6. Stay faithful to your routine:

Keeping yourself committed to your planner is key in achieving your study goals. You do not have to be strict in timing to the minute; even if you may study lesser than the allocated time in a day for a particular subject, regularly keeping at it would still ensure an overall better progress. Make sure you catch breaks every 15 minutes or so to keep up your concentration.