Calculator Inputs
Fields are arranged for 3 columns on large screens, 2 on smaller, and 1 on mobile.
Formula Used
- CalendarDays = days between StartDate and ExamDate (inclusive)
- StudyDays ≈ round(CalendarDays × DaysPerWeek / 7) − BreakDays
- PlannedHours = StudyDays × DailyHours
- EffectiveAvailable = PlannedHours × (Efficiency / 100)
- Baseline = Units × HoursPerUnit or TotalRequiredHours
- ContentAdjusted = Baseline × DifficultyFactor × (1 − Familiarity/100)
- RevisionHours = ContentAdjusted × Σ(pass rates)
- MockTotal = MockCount × (MockHours + ReviewHours)
- RequiredTotal = (ContentAdjusted + RevisionHours + MockTotal) × (1 + Buffer/100)
The “Extra planned hours per study day” converts required effective hours into planned hours using your efficiency.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your Start Date and Exam Date.
- Choose a syllabus mode: Units or Total required hours.
- Set daily hours, days per week, and break days.
- Tune realism: familiarity, efficiency, and buffer.
- Add revision passes and mock tests, then click Calculate.
Example Data Table
| Start | Exam | Units | Hours/Unit | Difficulty | Familiarity | Daily Hours | Days/Week | Breaks | Revisions | Mocks | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-27 | 2026-03-29 | 20 | 2.5 | 1.00 | 20% | 2.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Balanced baseline plan |
| 2026-02-27 | 2026-03-13 | 18 | 3.0 | 1.20 | 10% | 2.0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Likely shortfall; increase hours or efficiency |
Use the examples as starting points, then customize for your subject and pace.
Inputs That Define Your Study Window
Start and exam dates define the calendar window. The calculator estimates study days using round(CalendarDays × DaysPerWeek / 7), then subtracts planned break days. Example: 30 calendar days with 6 study days/week gives about 26 study days; minus 2 breaks leaves 24 study days. Enter break days for travel or heavy workload so the schedule stays realistic.
Converting Syllabus Size Into Baseline Hours
Baseline work can be entered as units or as a direct total-hours estimate. Units mode multiplies chapters, topics, or problem sets by hours per unit, which suits structured syllabi. If you have 20 topics and need 2.5 hours each, baseline equals 50 hours. Total-hours mode is useful when a teacher provides expected study time, or when you tracked time from a previous attempt.
Realism Factors: Difficulty, Familiarity, Efficiency
Difficulty scales content hours from 0.85× (easy) to 1.40× (very hard). Familiarity reduces relearning time: at 20% familiarity, only 80% of adjusted content hours remain. Efficiency converts planned hours into effective hours to reflect interruptions and fatigue. With 80% efficiency, a 2.0-hour session produces 1.6 effective hours. Many learners fall between 70–90%; use your last week’s actual output to calibrate this input.
Revision Cycles and Mock Test Work
Revision passes add time with diminishing rates (15%, 12%, 10%, 8%, 6%), reflecting faster recall on later reviews. This supports spaced repetition without double-counting the full syllabus. Mock tests add sitting time plus review time, because feedback drives score gains. Four mocks at 2.0 hours plus 1.0 hour review add 12 hours. If your exam is problem-heavy, set review time near the mock duration to rewrite solutions and maintain an error log.
Reading the Output and Improving the Plan
Capacity compares effective available hours to buffered required hours. A value above 100% indicates slack; below 100% signals shortfall. Buffer adds contingency (commonly 10–15%) for slow topics and unexpected tasks. Use “Extra planned hours per study day” to raise daily targets, or adjust levers: increase days/week, reduce breaks, improve efficiency with shorter sessions, or reduce revision passes when the deadline is tight. Aim for a positive gap so the final week can prioritize past papers.
FAQs
1) How do I choose hours per unit?
Estimate one average topic session including practice. Time three representative topics, average them, then add 10% for setup and notes. Use that as hours per unit.
2) What efficiency percentage should I enter?
Use recent data: effective study time divided by planned time. If you planned 10 hours and achieved 7.5 focused hours, your efficiency is 75%.
3) Does familiarity reduce revision time too?
Familiarity reduces content hours only. Revision passes are computed from adjusted content hours, so higher familiarity indirectly lowers revision time as well.
4) How many revision passes are ideal?
Two to three passes work for most exams: one consolidation review and one speed review. Add more only if your timeline is long and you can keep mocks.
5) Why include mock review hours separately?
Review often equals or exceeds sitting time. Separating review forces realistic planning for error analysis, formula sheets, and targeted drills after each mock.
6) What should I do if I have a shortfall?
Increase daily hours modestly, add one study day per week, reduce break days, or raise efficiency with shorter sessions. If needed, cut revision passes and focus on high-yield topics.