Five-Day Study Plan – Learning Strategies Center (2024)

Don’t Cram, Use a Five-Day Study Plan!

Five-Day Study Plan – Learning Strategies Center (1)The simple keys to a five-day study plan:

  1. Figure out what you need to know in (“prepare”).
  2. Make sure you know it (“review”).
  3. Start in advance & switch things up.

1. Preparing study material for an exam is an active process. This is where you identify, organize, and consolidate your material. You want to end up with a study guide, flash cards, quizlets, concept maps, practice test questions that you made up, etc. (Don’t just passively re-write your notes or re-read a chapter–instead make something new.) Staring this five days before your exam helps solidify the material, plus it gives you time to identify what you still don’t understand so you can get your questions answered.

2. Reviewing the material you prepared should also be active-this is where you figure out how much you actually know and what you still need to work on. Try “blank page testing,” quizzing yourself or a friend, and/or taking practice exams.

Some Examples of Preparation and Review Strategies

3. Switch up preparation and reviewPeople learn faster and perform better if they work in brief blocks of time spread out over longer periods of time, rather than in a few lengthy “cram” sessions. For example:

  • You will perform better on an exam if you spend one hour studying each day for 20 days than if you spend 10 hours studying each day for two days before the test.
  • It is easier to learn to shoot a 3-pointer better if you practice a little bit each day for a month rather than have one marathon session in an afternoon.
  • You will learn the tuba best if you practice a little each day (though your roommate may disagree about anything regarding you learning the tuba–fair enough).

Put that principle to work by mixing up preparation and review. Don’t do all of your preparation, then stop that and do all of your review. Mix them up to learn best! (Use this principle to your advantage when you need to prepare for multiple exams/projects simultaneously–it can be a great silver lining in those stressful times to know that going back and forth to work on multiple subjects helps you learn each one better.)How to Make a Five-Day Study Plan

  • Break the material on the exam into chunks or groups of material. (By chapter? Topic? Lecture? You decide what makes sense depending on your class.) For the example below, we will use 4 chunks or groups of material (A, B, C, and D). For example, Chunk A might be chapters 1-2, Chunk B is chapter 3, Chunk C is chapters 4-5, and Chunk D is chapter 6.
  • Plan to spend about 2 hours studying on each of the five days.
  • Work with the material in 2 ways: preparation and review.
  • Decide what preparation and review strategies will work best for you, and include those on your five-day study plan chart. Click here for a downloadable word document of a Five-Day Study Plan.

Sample Five-Day Study Plan ChartClick here for a downloadable word document ofA Five-Day Study Plan.You will have to get creative with your plan for those times when you have two or three prelims or other big assignments in the same week.During the five days you are studying for your exam be kind to your future self and don’t neglect your other courses!Would you like to learn more?

Up Next: What do you do with practice exams?

Preparation Strategies
(This is where you identify, organize, and consolidate material.)
Review Strategies
(This is where you self-test and evaluate your learning.)
  • Develop study sheets or study guides
  • Make flash cards
  • Outline/summarize material
  • Develop concept maps or charts (make sure you use use linking terms)
  • List the steps in a complex process or develop a flow chart
  • Make a list of 20 topics that could be on the exam. Be able to explain why you think they might be on the test.
  • Predict (and answer!) practice test/essay questions
  • Answer questions at the end of the chapter (that weren’t assigned as HW)
  • Prepare material for a study group
  • Explain concepts to others
  • Use your quizlets or flash cards
  • Work problems (no looking at answer keys!)
  • Take self-tests (try to mimic test conditions if you can)
  • Recite from memory (better yet, tell your cat or favorite pillow) your list of 20 topics that could be on the exam.
  • Work the problems that you missed on quizzes, HW, or questions at the end of the chapter
  • Outline answers to essay questions from memory
  • Write a full sample essay
  • Explain material to group members or study partners
Day 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5
Prepare Chunk A: 2hrsPrepare Chunk B: 2 hrs;
Review Chunk A: 30 min
Prepare Chunk C: 1.5 hrs;
Review Chunk B: 30 min;
Review Chunk A: 15 min
Prepare Chunk D: 1 hr;
Review Chunk C: 30 min;
Review Chunk B: 15 min;
Review Chunk A: 15 min
Review Chunk D: 25 min;
Review Chunk C: 15 min;
Review Chunk B: 10 min;
Review Chunk A: 10 min
Self-test on A, B, C, D: 1 hr

References:

Blerkom, D. L. (2012). Orientation to college learning (7 edition). Boston: Engage

Blerkom, D. L. and Mulcahy-Ernt, P. I. (2004). College reading and study strategies. Boston: Cengage.

Texas A&M University Academic Success Center (n.d.).5 day study plan. https://asc.tamu.edu/study-learning-handouts/5-day-study-plan

Five-Day Study Plan – Learning Strategies Center (2024)

FAQs

What is the 5 day study plan? ›

How to Create a 5-Day Study Plan. Step 1: Space out your exam preparation over a period of at least 5 days, devoting 2-2/12 hours each day to studying. Step 2: Divide your material into 4 or more sections or chunks. Each chunk of information will be either prepared or reviewed in a 2-hour study session.

Is 5 days enough to study for an exam? ›

In general, plan to start about 7-10 days in advance to make sure you maximize your study time. Remember, it is better to space your studying out over a period of days rather than clustering your studying just before the exam. Ten hours of studying over 5 days is better than 10 hours of studying over 2 days!

How to make a study plan for high school? ›

  1. PLAN A SCHEDULE OF BALANCED ACTIVITIES. ...
  2. PLAN ENOUGH TIME FOR STUDYING EACH SUBJECT. ...
  3. STUDY AT A SET TIME AND IN A CONSISTENT PLACE. ...
  4. STUDY AS SOON AFTER YOUR CLASS AS POSSIBLE. ...
  5. UTILIZE ODD HOURS DURING THE DAY FOR STUDYING. ...
  6. LIMIT YOUR STUDY TIME TO NO MORE THAN 2 HOURS ON ANY ONE COURSE AT ONE TIME.

What is the best study time table? ›

Sample Study Routines to Follow
  • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Third study block (or attend your classes). ...
  • 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Time for another extended break. ...
  • 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Final study block (or attend your classes). ...
  • 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM: Free time! ...
  • 9:30 PM – 5:30 AM: Get a good night's rest to feel fully recharged the next day!
Nov 1, 2023

What does a study plan look like? ›

A study schedule is a time-management plan that will help you achieve your learning goals. In this plan, you'll schedule your study sessions, as you would your work or social commitments. By setting aside dedicated time to study, you'll be able to break down tasks and assignments into manageable chunks.

How many hours a week should a student plan to study? ›

Time Management

How much time should you be studying per week? Research suggests that students should spend approximately 2-3 hours, per credit hour, studying in order to be successful in their courses. STEM classes often require 3-4 hours, per credit hour, of studying to be successful.

What is the 1 3 5 7 study method? ›

When using the 2357 technique, you revise your notes and study materials over and over again, following a set schedule. In simplest terms, you revise your initial set of notes on day one, take a second look on day two and day three, then revisit them on day five and day seven.

What is the best time to study and memorize? ›

Scientists have found the best time for study! According to scientists, the brain is most alert and teachable at 10 am–2 pm and 4 pm–10 pm. (Source: Amber Student). If you would like to optimise your attention span and practise deep learning, then science advises you to study between the hours of 4 am and 7 am.

Why should you eat breakfast on test day? ›

A healthy, balanced breakfast fuels your body, balances your blood sugar levels, and revs your metabolism. To function optimally, your brain needs water, fat, glucose, and vitamins. An iced coffee, donut, or energy drink isn't going to cut it. For a four-hour standardized test, you'll need sustained energy.

How can I focus 100% on studying? ›

7 tips for staying organised and focused while studying
  1. Make a plan. ...
  2. Create a relaxed study environment. ...
  3. Take regular breaks. ...
  4. Don't get distracted by social media. ...
  5. Drink plenty of water and eat well. ...
  6. Reward yourself. ...
  7. Don't do all-nighters, you will regret it!

What is a study plan template? ›

A study plan is a detailed schedule that outlines what you need to do and when you need to do it. It is a tool to help you organize and keep track of your studies. It can also help you set goals and track your progress each day.

How to make a self study plan? ›

5 Steps to Creating a Personal Learning Plan
  1. Identify a Learning Objective. Before creating a personal learning plan, you need to identify your objective. ...
  2. Break Your Objective into Smaller Goals. ...
  3. Develop Your Plan. ...
  4. Take Advantage of Available Resources. ...
  5. Hold Yourself Accountable.
May 17, 2018

What is the most efficient study time? ›

Tips on when to study:

Many students claim to be most productive at night; however, most people are actually more focused and productive earlier in the day (i.e. morning, afternoon, and early evening).

What is the best break time for studying? ›

How often should you take a break while studying? Overall, it is suggested that you take at least one 15-minute break every 90 minutes. You can, however, take shorter breaks every 45 or 30 minutes.

What is the 3 day study method? ›

With this method, the material is divided equally into three parts, one part for each of the three days. Each section of the study material is only reviewed once, making this study plan ideal for students with good memories.

How many hours should I study for 5 classes? ›

The general rule of thumb regarding college studying is, that for each class, students should spend approximately 2-3 hours of study time for each hour that they spend in class. Non-science courses: For every 1 unit you are enrolled, you are recommended to spend approximately two hours outside of class studying.

What is a weekly study schedule? ›

A study plan is an organized schedule outlining study times and learning goals. Just like with work or school schedules, college students should develop a schedule that sets aside dedicated time each week for studying.

How to write a study plan? ›

  1. Step 1: Determine your priorities and academic goals. ...
  2. Step 2: Reflect upon how you study best. ...
  3. Step 3: Create a one-month calendar of your academic deadlines. ...
  4. Step 4: Make a list of your priority tasks. ...
  5. Step 5: Create weekly calendars to budget your daily commitments.
  6. Step 6: Revise your plan.

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