Revision Time Calculator

Formula used

Practical guidance

Why accurate revision forecasting matters

Students routinely underestimate revision time because they count only first-pass reading. This calculator converts a syllabus backlog into minutes, then scales the estimate using difficulty, retention targets, and revision passes. The output helps you commit to a realistic daily workload, reduce last‑week panic, and protect recovery time without losing momentum. It supports session planning plus exportable daily schedules easily.

Inputs that drive the estimate

Workload starts with either pages or topics, multiplied by your pace. Difficulty adjusts effort with a factor from 0.85 to 1.45, reflecting how long it takes to understand concepts and solve problems. Retention targets add time because recall practice and error correction are more demanding than passive review. A buffer percent covers disruptions such as travel, fatigue, or unexpectedly hard chapters.

Spaced revision and recall allocation

The calculator treats revision passes as spaced repetition rather than duplicate reading. Each extra pass adds about 35% of base time, encouraging shorter refresh cycles with active recall. Daily minutes can be split into core learning and review share, so you can reserve time for flashcards, past papers, and mistake logs. This structure reduces forgetting and improves exam‑style performance.

Capacity planning across weekdays and weekends

Availability is modeled separately for weekdays and weekends because study blocks usually differ. Rest days are scheduled weekly to prevent burnout and to improve consolidation. If the plan is not feasible, the summary highlights the gap between required hours and available capacity, making it easier to adjust scope, increase hours temporarily, or reduce passes while preserving high‑weight topics. For multiple subjects, estimate each course and combine targets, then cap totals to protect sleep and avoid workload spillover.

Using the schedule as a progress system

After calculation, export the plan as CSV or PDF and track completion by date. Mark each session outcome (done, partial, missed) and update your pace when reality differs from the estimate. Add mock tests every few days to surface weak areas early. When you finish ahead of schedule, convert remaining days into targeted review and timed practice. For many courses, allocating 10–20% of weekly minutes to correction work improves scores more than adding new content time.

FAQs

1) Should I choose pages or topics?

Pick the unit you can estimate most consistently. Pages work well for reading-heavy subjects; topics fit problem sets or modular courses. Use the same unit for all materials to avoid double counting.

2) What does the retention target change?

A higher target increases time because it assumes more recall practice, re-testing, and correction. If you are short on time, keep the target realistic and prioritize high-yield sections.

3) Why include revision passes?

Multiple passes mimic spaced repetition. Instead of rereading everything, later passes should be faster and focus on weak areas. The multiplier encourages short refresh cycles plus testing.

4) How do rest days affect results?

Rest days reduce active capacity but often improve consistency and recall. If your plan becomes infeasible, reduce rest days temporarily, then restore them after the deadline.

5) What if the plan is not feasible?

Increase daily availability, reduce buffer, lower revision passes, or trim scope by exam weight. Keep mock tests shorter rather than removing them, because they guide efficient review.

6) How should I set session and break lengths?

Use a session length you can sustain without drifting. Many learners prefer 25–50 minutes with 5–10 minute breaks. For deep work, try 75–90 minutes with longer breaks.