How to Prepare for Exams: A Study Schedule That Works
How to prepare for exams step by step: list topics, make a study schedule with spaced review, practice with past papers, and handle the last week and exam day.
The worst way to prepare for an exam is the most common one: wait until it feels urgent, then cram. It’s stressful, it costs sleep, and most of it is forgotten soon after.
This guide shows how to prepare for exams with a simple system: list what you need to know, build a study schedule that spreads review over time, practice the way you’ll be tested, and plan the final week. It’s part of our study habits guides.
Step 1: Know what you’re being tested on
Start with the facts:
- Exam dates and formats: multiple choice, essays, problems, practicals.
- The syllabus or topic list, from your course outline or teacher.
- Past papers and mark schemes, if available. They show what’s asked and how it’s marked.
Write a list of every topic for each exam. This list becomes your plan.
Step 2: Rate each topic
Next to each topic, mark how confident you are:
- Red: don’t understand it yet.
- Amber: understand it, can’t reliably recall it.
- Green: can explain it and answer questions on it.
Red topics need learning. Amber topics need practice. Green topics need occasional review.
Step 3: Build a study schedule
Work backwards from the exam date.
- Count your available sessions. For example, five 45-minute sessions a week for six weeks gives 30 sessions.
- Give red topics two or three sessions each, amber topics one or two, green topics one.
- Spread each topic out. Don’t do all of one topic in a row; return to it after a few days. That’s the spacing effect.
- Reserve the last week for past papers and light review.
- Leave buffer sessions for things that take longer than expected.
A six-week exam study schedule (example)
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Learn red topics; first review of amber topics |
| 3–4 | Second pass on all topics; start past paper questions by topic |
| 5 | Full past papers under timed conditions; review weak areas |
| 6 | Light review, summary sheets, rest and sleep |
Put sessions in your calendar at fixed times; see time blocking.
Step 4: Study actively
- Test yourself with flashcards, practice questions and blank page recall. See active recall.
- Use past papers as the main practice from week 3 onwards, first open-book by topic, then timed.
- Mark your own answers with the mark scheme. Learn what examiners want.
- Make one-page summaries from memory, then check them against your notes.
Step 5: Keep going until exam day
The plan only works if you follow it.
- Short sessions at set times. 30 to 50 minutes with one goal, then a break.
- Study with others. A study partner, a group or a shared silent session makes starting easier. See study buddy apps.
- Track sessions done, not hours. Seeing sessions add up keeps you going.
- Missed a session? Don’t double up. Move to the next one and use a buffer slot later.
Disclosure: Cohorty publishes this journal. In Cohorty you can book 30-minute study sessions at set times (“Past paper, questions 1–3”) and study alongside other students with no camera or chat. See study with me online.
The last week
- Past papers under exam conditions, then review mistakes.
- No new topics in the last two or three days unless essential.
- Summary sheets for a final quick review.
- Sleep. Sleep supports memory, and late-night cramming often hurts performance.
- Plan the logistics: time, place, what to bring, how you’ll get there.
Exam day
- Eat something and arrive early.
- Read all questions first and plan your time per section.
- Start with a question you’re confident about.
- If you get stuck, move on and return later.
Managing exam stress
Some nerves are normal and can even help focus. If stress is overwhelming:
- Keep studying in short, planned sessions; a plan reduces uncertainty.
- Use a night routine for anxiety if worries keep you awake.
- Talk to someone: a friend, family, a teacher or student support services.
Common questions
How early should I start preparing for exams?
For major exams, several weeks ahead is a good aim, so you can spread reviews out. Start with a topic list and a simple schedule.
How many hours a day should I study for exams?
It depends on your exams and other commitments. A few focused sessions a day, spread over weeks, usually works better than very long days close to the exam.
What’s the best way to revise?
Active methods: practice questions, past papers, flashcards and recall from memory, spread over several weeks. Rereading notes alone is much less effective.
Should I study the night before an exam?
A light review is fine. Prioritize sleep over cramming new material.
