Exam Cram Scheduler Calculator

Planner inputs

Example schedule table

Formula used

How to use this calculator

1. Set your exam date and your start date.
2. Enter daily study hours you can realistically sustain.
3. Choose rest days so the schedule matches your routine.
4. Adjust review and mock percentages for your test style.
5. Optionally paste a topic list with difficulty and priority.
6. Click “Generate schedule” and follow the daily plan.
7. Download CSV or PDF to track progress consistently.

Time Window and Capacity

Your window is the count of active study days from start to exam after removing chosen rest weekdays. Daily minutes equal daily hours × 60, and total capacity is study days × daily minutes. Blocks are rounded to 5‑minute steps so totals stay calendar-friendly. If you have fewer than 7 active days, reduce rest days or narrow the syllabus; otherwise fatigue rises fast. If you include exam day, keep it very gentle.

Topic Weighting for Fast Coverage

When you paste topics, each line can include difficulty (1–3) and priority (1–5). The planner builds a weight from both so high‑impact, hard chapters get more learning minutes, while every topic still receives a baseline. Use priority 5 for frequently tested areas and priority 1 for optional sections. Difficulty 3 should mean “needs timed practice,” not just “feels unfamiliar.”

Review Distribution and Recall

Review time is reserved as a percentage of total minutes and is boosted in the final-review days. Many candidates choose review 15–30% and mocks 5–20%. A stable early split is 70% learning, 20% review, 10% mocks, then shift toward heavier review near the end. The schedule caps review plus mocks to leave at least some learning each day. Final review days can push review close to 80%. With spaced reviews enabled, first exposure triggers short recall checks after 1, 3, and 7 days.

Mock Testing and Correction Loops

Mock minutes simulate exam pressure and help you measure speed. On the weekly mock day the schedule can assign a larger timed block, followed by scoring and correction. Treat corrections as the main payoff: keep an error log, label mistakes as concept, method, or pacing, and convert them into mini-drills. If your test has sections, run sectional mocks first, then full-length as the date approaches.

Session Engineering for Focus

Session estimates use your session length plus breaks to show how many focused blocks fit in a day. For many students, 45–60 minute sessions with 5–15 minute breaks balance intensity and recovery. Start with the toughest topic while energy is high, keep notes minimal, and finish with flashcards or formula recall. The goal is repeatable momentum, not perfect coverage.

FAQs

1) What daily hours should I enter?

Enter the hours you can repeat every day without borrowing from sleep. If you’re unsure, start 2–3 hours, run the schedule for a week, then increase in 30–60 minute steps.

2) Do I need to list my topics?

No. If you leave the list blank, the calculator generates placeholder topics using “Total topics.” Add a list when you want time split by real chapters, difficulty, and priority.

3) How does spaced review work?

When enabled, the first study session of a topic schedules short recall checks about 1, 3, and 7 days later. These are quick retrieval blocks, not full re-learning sessions.

4) What if I miss a scheduled day?

Don’t double the next day. Mark the missed topics as priority 5, regenerate the schedule from today, and keep your daily hours steady. Consistency beats panic catch-up.

5) When should I do full-length mocks?

Use sectional mocks early, then do at least one full-length mock in the last 7–10 active days. Always reserve correction time; reviewing the mock is where most improvement happens.

6) Can I use the exports in other tools?

Yes. CSV works well in spreadsheets for filtering by day, topic, or minutes. PDF is best for printing and ticking off tasks. Regenerate and re-download whenever your inputs change.