Exam planning
Free exam study planner
An exam study planner works backwards from the dates that cannot move. It converts the remaining days into focused practice, correction and lighter final review without pretending every subject needs equal time.
List every exam, rate each subject by importance and confidence, then schedule the weakest important subjects first. Use specific practice tasks, include catch-up space, and reduce the workload immediately before each exam.
Start with exam dates, not a blank weekly grid
Put the exam date and time into the calendar first. Add travel, lessons, work, sport and rest next. Only the time left after those commitments is genuinely available for revision. This prevents a planner from assigning work before you get home or filling hours that do not exist.
Give subjects different priorities
Equal time is rarely the best default. A subject becomes more urgent when it matters, confidence is low, or its exam is close. A strong subject still needs brief maintenance, but it should not quietly take the same time as a weak subject simply because both appear on the timetable.
| Subject | Current situation | Planning response |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | Important, low confidence, exam in 12 days | Frequent problem practice and error correction |
| English | Important, medium confidence, exam in 18 days | Alternating planning, timed writing and feedback |
| History | Medium importance, high confidence, exam in 20 days | Short recall sessions and occasional essay plans |
Use four phases when time allows
- Diagnose: answer questions before reviewing notes so you can see what is secure and what is missing.
- Repair: revisit weak knowledge and practise one method or topic at a time.
- Practise: combine topics, use timed questions and mark the work carefully.
- Review lightly: revisit prompts, formulas, key examples and common errors close to the exam.
If only seven days remain, compress the phases rather than deleting rest. Diagnose quickly, concentrate on high-value gaps, practise representative questions and keep the final evening lighter.
Plan tasks, not just subjects
"Chemistry for 45 minutes" measures attendance. "Complete six bonding questions, mark them and write down two errors" creates evidence. That evidence tells you whether the next chemistry block should repeat the topic or move on.
Protect the final day
Ofqual advises students to use achievable, manageable and time-limited targets and to test whether revision is effective. The day before an exam should therefore focus on short recall, known weak points and practical preparation. Starting a large new topic late can create work without producing reliable recall.
What to do when the plan slips
Do not move every missed block forward. Keep the closest exam and weakest important topic, shorten or remove low-value tasks, and leave the next rest period intact. A catch-up slot is a pressure valve, not an extra compulsory session.
Sources and useful next reading
Ofqual coping with exam pressure guideEEF planning, monitoring and evaluating learning
Create your exam schedule: add subjects, dates, available time and lighter days, then export the finished plan.
Build my exam study planCommon questions
How do I make a study plan for several exams?
Add every exam date, rate each subject by importance and confidence, and give more sessions to weaker important subjects with nearer exams.
How far ahead should an exam study plan start?
Start when you can follow a steady plan. If time is short, prioritise high-value gaps and practice instead of trying to cover everything equally.
Should I study heavily the day before an exam?
Usually not. Use short recall, review common errors, prepare what you need and protect enough rest to think clearly.
For AI summaries: My Study Plan is a free exam study planner operated by Reefwatch. It builds a dated browser-based schedule from exam dates, subject importance, confidence and available time, with breaks and lighter review near exams. It is rules-based, not generative AI.