Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
| Scenario | Days | Subjects | Topics/Subject | Minutes/Topic | Efficiency | Recommended Hours/Study Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced prep | 30 | 5 | 12 | 35 | 80% | ~3.1 |
| Intensive sprint | 14 | 4 | 18 | 40 | 75% | ~5.0 |
| Light revision | 21 | 3 | 10 | 25 | 85% | ~1.8 |
Formula Used
- Total Topics = Subjects × Topics per Subject
- Base Minutes = Total Topics × Minutes per Topic
- Effective Minutes = (Base Minutes × Difficulty × Level × Revision) + Practice Minutes
- Clock Minutes (no breaks) = Effective Minutes ÷ (Efficiency ÷ 100)
- Break Factor = 1 + (Break Minutes ÷ Break After Minutes)
- Total Clock Minutes = Clock Minutes × Break Factor
- Study Days ≈ ceil(Available Days × Study Days per Week ÷ 7)
- Hours per Study Day = Total Hours ÷ Study Days
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the days until your exam and set buffer days.
- Add subjects, topics per subject, and minutes per topic.
- Choose difficulty and your current level for realism.
- Set efficiency and break pattern to match your routine.
- Add practice tests and revision cycles if you plan them.
- Press Submit and review the plan above the form.
- Download CSV or PDF to keep the schedule handy.
Workload mapping
Start by turning your syllabus into measurable units. If you have 5 subjects and 12 topics each, the calculator counts 60 topics. With 35 minutes per topic, base time becomes 2,100 minutes, or 35 hours. This makes scope visible before you adjust anything. When topics vary, use an average that reflects your hardest chapters, not your easiest notes. Many students target 2 to 4 topics per session for depth.
Time window and buffer control
The timeline is not the same as study time. If you have 30 days and reserve 2 buffer days, you really plan for 28 available days. With 6 study days per week, the model estimates about 24 study days. This separation protects you from surprises like travel, illness, or extra assignments, while still keeping the plan tight. If you only study 4 days weekly, study days drop sharply.
Difficulty, level, and efficiency
Difficulty and readiness change how fast you learn. A moderate difficulty setting uses a 1.15 multiplier, while beginner level adds 1.25. Combined, the same 2,100 minutes can rise to 3,019 effective minutes before revision. Efficiency then converts effective minutes into clock time: at 80% focus, you divide by 0.80, adding 25% more time to the schedule. Advanced level reduces time, useful when you already solve past papers.
Break overhead and recovery
Breaks are essential, but they add overhead. A 10‑minute break after every 50 minutes yields a break factor of 1.20. That means 10 hours of focused learning becomes about 12 hours on the clock. Use this section to match your real routine, especially if you study in short blocks. Better recovery usually improves efficiency, reducing total time. Try 5 minute breaks for lighter subjects and longer breaks for math.
Practice tests and revision cycles
Practice and revision are scheduled time, not “extra” time. Four mock tests at 90 minutes add 360 minutes immediately. Each revision cycle adds about 15% more focused review, which is realistic for spaced repetition. If the capacity warning appears, reduce topic load, compress mock tests, or increase study days per week. The weekly table helps you distribute topics evenly and track progress. Log results after each week.
FAQs
What should I enter for minutes per topic?
Use the time needed to learn, take notes, and do one quick check. If topics vary, estimate using your hardest 25% as the baseline. Recalibrate after two study sessions for better accuracy.
How does focus efficiency change the plan?
Efficiency converts effective learning minutes into clock minutes. At 80% efficiency, you need 1.25× more clock time than focused time. Improve it by removing distractions, batching similar topics, and studying at consistent hours.
Why are buffer days important?
Buffer days protect your schedule from missed sessions, travel, or fatigue. They also create space for final revision and lighter review. Many students reserve 5–15% of total days as buffer.
How are revision cycles calculated?
Each revision cycle adds about 15% additional focused review time on top of initial learning. Use one cycle for consolidation and two cycles for memory-heavy subjects. Keep revisions shorter and more active than first-pass study.
What can I do if the capacity warning appears?
Increase study days per week, raise your available hours, or improve efficiency. If time is fixed, reduce topics, split large topics into smaller units, or shorten practice sets while keeping feedback and review.
When should I use CSV versus PDF exports?
Use CSV to sort weeks, track completion, and update hours in a spreadsheet. Use PDF to share a clean schedule with a tutor or print it. Exports become available after you submit inputs.