| Skill | Goal | Levels | Topics | Weeks | Hours/Week | Retention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analysis | Portfolio with three projects | 2 → 4 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 80% |
| English Writing | Publish four articles | 1 → 3 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 85% |
| Algebra | Pass an entry exam | 1 → 4 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 75% |
CoreHours = Topics × BaseHours(difficulty) × Depth(levelGap) × ResourceFactor × PaceFactorCoreHours = CoreHours × (100 / Retention%) × (1 + ReviewRatio%)TotalRequired = CoreHours + (CoreHours × Assessment%) + (CoreHours × Project%)EffectiveWeekly = HoursPerWeek × ((7 − BreakDays) / 7)EffectiveTotal = EffectiveWeekly × Weeks- Enter your skill, goal, and your current and target levels.
- Set topics, difficulty, weekly hours, and available weeks.
- Choose break days, sessions per week, and retention confidence.
- Adjust review, project, and assessment percentages to match your style.
- Generate your plan, then export it as CSV or PDF.
- Revisit weekly and tweak inputs as your progress changes.
Time budgeting that respects real constraints
A learning plan fails when it ignores time leakage. This calculator converts your stated hours into effective hours by applying break days, then splits that budget across study, review, projects, and assessments. Example: 8 hours per week with 1 break day becomes about 6.9 effective hours. Sessions per week then estimates a practical session length to support a repeatable routine. This makes weekly commitments visible and reduces last-minute cramming near deadlines.
Depth scaling from level gaps
Moving from level 2 to level 4 is not a simple doubling of content. The planner uses a level-gap multiplier to increase depth for higher targets: bigger gaps require more practice cycles, stronger retrieval, and wider coverage. Two learners can pick the same topics, yet the higher target allocates more time to projects and checkpoints. Use it to decide whether to raise targets later or run a second cycle.
Difficulty mapping to base hours per topic
Difficulty is treated as a time driver, not a label. Each topic starts with a base hour estimate (about 2 hours at difficulty 1 and up to 9 hours at difficulty 5), then is adjusted for depth, pace, resources, and retention. The output helps you decide whether to reduce scope, extend the timeline, or change the pace setting. When resources quality is higher, the plan assumes faster onboarding and fewer rework loops.
Retention and review as measurable reinvestment
Retention confidence is a proxy for forgetting. Lower confidence increases revisit time through a retention multiplier, while the review ratio adds planned reinforcement. A 25% review ratio creates a spacing loop: learn, revisit, and test recall. Turning mistakes into prompts makes review time more productive. If retention is low, raise review before adding new topics.
Progress signals and plan quality checks
The feasibility score summarizes fit between effective available hours and estimated required hours. Above 85 usually means buffer; 70–84 suggests small adjustments; under 70 signals narrower topics, more weeks, or more weekly hours. Use the weekly table as a control chart and protect review and assessments when rescheduling. Regenerate after checkpoints to reflect faster progress or unexpected gaps. It also keeps motivation high weekly.
1) What does the feasibility score mean?
It compares effective available hours to estimated required hours. Higher scores imply buffer for setbacks and deeper practice. Lower scores suggest you should reduce scope, extend weeks, or increase weekly study time.
2) How should I choose topics or modules?
Count distinct skill units you can complete in one to three study sessions. If a unit feels too large, split it. If it feels too small, merge it with a related unit for better context.
3) Is a higher review ratio always better?
Not always. Too much review can slow new coverage. For tough subjects, 25–35% is often helpful. For lighter topics or short timelines, 15–25% can keep momentum while still protecting retention.
4) Why do break days reduce my effective hours?
Break days protect sustainability, so the calculator assumes fewer productive days per week. This prevents overcommitting and reduces burnout risk. You can still study on break days, but buffer makes the plan more reliable.
5) How do projects and assessments improve outcomes?
Projects convert knowledge into performance and create portfolio evidence. Assessments expose weak spots early. Together, they increase feedback frequency, reduce illusion of competence, and help you finish with measurable skill gains.
6) When should I regenerate the plan?
Update it every one to two weeks, or whenever your schedule changes. If sessions are frequently missed, lower the target level or reduce topics for the current cycle, then plan a new cycle after completion.