In the quest for academic excellence, the age-old inquiry about the perfect study plan endures. Edel Walsh delves into the art of crafting study plans that align performance objectives with the cadence of life
One of the most common questions students ask is if I can give them a study plan or schedule that will help them get the grades they are looking for in the exam.
When it comes to study plans, there is no magic bullet. There is not one study plan out there that works for all students. We are all different and have different learning styles, so your plan needs to work for you.
Not only do you need to consider the amount of study required to complete your exams successfully, but how your study will fit into your busy life.
When creating your study plan, you must consider your extracurricular activities, relationships and other commitments.
Creating your study plan
The first step when creating your plan is setting a performance goal. That goal might be to pass your exams or get a particular grade.
When you set this performance goal, you must understand what is required to achieve it. What is expected of you?
Next, do a time budget, looking at what you must cover with available time. Is it realistic? If not, how can you go about re-prioritising?
Try not to be too rigid with your study plan. You are looking for a bird’s eye view of the road ahead, not a minute-by-minute schedule for every day.
Once you have created your high-level plan, break the study schedule down weekly.
Weekly study plan
At the beginning of each week, set yourself weekly priorities. Ensure your study plan is realistic. Otherwise, it can feel overwhelming, which might result in procrastination and feeling de-motivated.
Ask yourself the following questions as you plan for your week:
- What are my top priorities?
- What are my learning goals?
- What subjects do I need to spend the most time on?
- What obstacles might I face this week?
- How can I overcome these obstacles?
- What extracurricular activities have I planned?
- How am I going to look after my well-being?
Daily study plan
At the start of each daily study session, set a learning goal outlining what you would like to have learned or achieved by the end of the day.
When planning your day, schedule time for examining yourself on what you have learned and time for breaks.
If you are doing focused, deep study, it is vital to schedule productive deep breaks.
A deep break is not like your lunch break, which may be 45 to 60 minutes long.
A deep break is a mind-cleanser that doesn’t fracture your focus like social media or doomscrolling can. Instead, go for a walk, make a quick snack or daydream.
While every student is different, I recommend taking a deep break of about 10 minutes after 60 to 90 minutes of study.
After your study session, reflect on what you did that day. Here are some questions you can ask yourself:
- What went well with my study today?
- What could have gone better?
- What do I need to learn or study more of for more learning mastery?
- What one thing can I do tomorrow to make it better than today?
Staying on track
While studying, it can be so easy to lose focus. Having a good study plan will help you stay on track and help you stay focused.
A good plan and setting realistic learning goals is the key to success. Ensure your plan is flexible, and be open to changing it if it is not working for you.
Edel Walsh is a student and exam coach. She supports her clients with their studies and exams using the holistic approach of focusing on academic success, personal development and looking after their well-being. For more information, email edel@edelwalsh.ie
LOADING...