Calculator Settings
Formula Used
How to Use This Calculator
- Set your start date, exam date, and buffer days.
- Enter daily minutes, session length, and break length.
- Define topics, review rounds, and practice test frequency.
- Adjust mastery, difficulty, and recall strength for spacing.
- Click Calculate to see the plan above the form.
- Download CSV or PDF to track progress offline.
Example Data Table
| Input | Example Value | Output | Example Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily minutes | 180 | Sessions per day | 3 |
| Session / Break | 50 / 10 | Study minutes per day | 150 |
| Topics / Reviews | 40 / 3 | Target review touches | 120 |
| Mastery / Target | 35% / 80% | Intervals (days) | 1, 3, 7 |
| Practice frequency | Weekly | Practice days in window | One per study week |
Interval planning ties memory to the calendar
Spaced reviews work because forgetting is predictable. This calculator converts your mastery, difficulty, and recall strength into a base gap in days, then expands it by a growth factor each round. For example, at 35% current mastery and 80% target mastery, a medium setting often produces a 1‑day base, then 3 and 7 days for later checks, bounded by your minimum and maximum limits. If only 10 days remain, each interval is capped so reviews still happen before the exam.
Session packing protects focus and recovery
Your daily minutes are packed into sessions using the rule n·S + (n−1)·B ≤ D. With D=180, S=50, and B=10, you can fit 3 sessions, yielding 150 study minutes plus 20 break minutes. This structure keeps time realistic and prevents overcommitting, especially when weekdays are limited. Short breaks also reduce decision fatigue across long preparation cycles.
Review share grows as the exam approaches
A rising review share shifts your plan from learning to retention. Early in the window, review might start at 25% of study time, then climb toward 70% as the exam gets closer. The curve setting controls how quickly that shift happens, so stronger candidates can delay heavy review while weaker candidates ramp earlier. Pair this with minutes per topic to estimate how many new items and review items fit each day.
Practice tests act as high-value checkpoints
Weekly or biweekly practice uses one session on the last study day of each week. These checkpoints expose timing issues and highlight weak topics. When practice is enabled, the calculator automatically reserves minutes first, then allocates the remaining time between new learning and reviews to keep the plan stable.
Interpreting coverage signals to adjust scope
The coverage panel compares planned new topics against your total topics, and planned reviews against topics×review rounds. If completion is “Not reached,” increase daily minutes, add a study day, shorten topic minutes, or reduce topics. Use the completion date to set a finishing milestone, then spend the buffer days on light recall and sleep. For results, keep the final week focused on review and error logs.
FAQs
How should I choose session length?
Pick a length you can sustain without drifting. Many learners do well with 40–60 minutes. If you are easily distracted, shorten sessions and increase count. Keep breaks consistent to protect energy.
What do mastery and target mastery change?
They influence the base interval and growth factor. Higher current mastery or stronger recall usually increases spacing, while a large gap between target and current mastery tightens spacing so reviews happen sooner.
Can I study only on weekends?
Yes. Select only Saturday and Sunday as study weekdays. The plan will concentrate sessions into those days, and intervals will still be computed, but you may need more daily minutes to finish coverage.
Why does review time increase near the exam?
Closer to the exam, recall matters more than new coverage. The calculator gradually shifts a larger share of study minutes to review, helping stabilize accuracy under time pressure and reducing last‑minute cramming.
How are practice days selected?
Practice is scheduled on the last selected study day of each week. Weekly chooses every week; biweekly chooses every second week. One session block is reserved first, then the remaining minutes are split between new and review work.
What if my plan shows “Not reached”?
Increase daily minutes, add more study weekdays, or reduce the number of topics. You can also lower minutes per topic if your materials are shorter. Recalculate until new topics and reviews fit comfortably before the buffer.