Study skills
How do you make a revision timetable?
Quick answer
A revision timetable is a plan of what to revise and when. Good ones use short sessions, mix subjects, revisit topics after gaps and leave time for rest.
In one sentence
A revision timetable is a calendar that tells you which topic to revise in each study slot between now and your exams.
Explained
Without a plan, it is easy to revise your favourite subject again and again and leave the hard topics until the last minute. A timetable spreads the work out so every topic gets time, and the hardest ones get the most.
A good timetable does three things. First, it spaces topics out: each topic appears more than once, with gaps of a few days or weeks, which is spaced repetition. Second, it mixes subjects, so you might do maths then history then science instead of six hours of maths. Third, it plans what kind of work each slot is: ideally self-testing with active recall, not rereading.
Keep sessions short enough to focus. Many students work in blocks of 25 to 45 minutes with a 5 to 10 minute break. Find what suits you. Put in meals, exercise, time with friends and enough sleep; tired brains learn badly. Leave one or two spare slots each week to catch up when life gets in the way.
Start several weeks before the exams if you can. Four weeks of steady revision is far less stressful than four nights of cramming.
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Examples
Step by step
- List exams and topicsWrite every subject, its exam date and all its topics.
- Rate each topicMark them green (confident), amber (OK) or red (weak).
- Count your slotsHow many study sessions do you realistically have each week?
- Fill slotsGive red topics more slots; mix subjects across each day.
- Repeat topicsSchedule each topic again a few days and a few weeks later.
- Review weeklyUpdate colours and move missed sessions into spare slots.
One school day after lessons:
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 4:30–5:00 | maths: test yourself on algebra |
| 5:00–5:10 | break |
| 5:10–5:40 | history: flashcards on causes of WW1 |
| evening | free time, then sleep |
Common mistakes
- Planning too much. A timetable you cannot keep makes you feel behind. Be realistic.
- Spending an evening decorating it. Make it quickly, then start revising.
- Revising only favourite subjects. Red topics need the most time.
- No rest days. Rest is part of the plan, not a failure of it.
Quick quiz
Revision timetable
Check what you know with 4 quick questions.
Question 1 of 4
What should you do first when making a revision timetable?
Practise it
Try it
Then prepare for the day itself with exam technique.
For grown-ups
Related topics
Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition means reviewing what you have learned several times with gaps in between, instead of cramming it all at once. The gaps help memories last longer.
Active recall
Active recall means testing yourself by pulling information out of your memory, instead of rereading it. It is one of the best-supported ways to revise.
Exam technique
Exam technique is the set of skills for answering the paper well on the day, such as reading questions carefully, using marks to plan time and checking your work.
Note-taking
Good notes are short, in your own words and organised so you can test yourself later. Methods like Cornell notes build in questions and a summary.
Flashcards
Flashcards are small cards with a question on one side and the answer on the other. They work best when you answer from memory before you flip.
Growth mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can improve with practice, good strategies and help. A fixed mindset is the belief that you either have a talent or you don't.