Inputs
How to use this calculator
- Enter your weekly study hours and study days.
- Pick a session length and break settings.
- Add subjects and rate difficulty, urgency, and importance.
- Submit to see hours, sessions, and a daily rotation plan.
- Download CSV or PDF for printing and sharing.
Formula used
The calculator assigns each subject a priority score, then divides your core study hours in proportion to those scores. A review buffer is held aside for spaced practice.
- Base score = 0.35×Difficulty + 0.35×Urgency + 0.30×Importance
- Proficiency factor = 1 + 0.05×(6 − Proficiency)
- Priority = Base score × Proficiency factor
- Allocated hours = Core hours × (Priority ÷ Sum of priorities)
- Sessions = round(Allocated hours × 60 ÷ Session minutes)
Example data table
| Subject | Difficulty | Urgency | Importance | Proficiency | Hours/week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6.0 |
| Science | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4.5 |
| History | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2.5 |
Time budgeting and weekly constraints
Available hours are the hard constraint that shapes every plan. This tool converts a single weekly number into daily commitments by distributing focus blocks across chosen study days. A buffer percentage is removed first, protecting time for revision rather than letting it disappear to last minute cramming. When you enter realistic hours, the plan becomes sustainable, and consistency beats occasional marathon sessions for retention and confidence. It leaves room for unexpected tasks.
Priority scoring and fair allocation
Subjects compete for limited attention, so the calculator uses a weighted priority score. Difficulty and urgency receive strong influence, while importance keeps long term goals visible. A proficiency factor slightly boosts weaker areas, preventing confident topics from dominating. Because priorities are proportional, adding a new subject automatically rebalances time without rewriting the schedule. This approach supports fairness across subjects while still rewarding critical deadlines. Minimum hours enforce baseline coverage during busy weeks.
Session structure and fatigue control
Session length and breaks determine how demanding your week feels. Shorter sessions increase the number of transitions and overhead, while longer sessions can raise fatigue. The break model adds short rests after most sessions and inserts longer resets every few sessions. This mirrors common focus cycles and helps reduce burnout. If you notice high break totals, adjust session minutes or reduce long break frequency for smoother days. Comfort matters more than perfection.
Review buffer and spaced practice
Review is where learning consolidates. The reserved buffer is treated as separate practice blocks that can be used for active recall, timed quizzes, summary writing, or flashcards. Spreading these blocks across days supports spaced repetition, which improves long term memory compared with rereading. If an exam is approaching, you can raise the buffer percentage and let subject allocations shrink slightly while review volume rises. Use review for error logs and targeted rework.
Reading results and improving each week
Outputs are designed for action, not decoration. The subject table shows hours per week, sessions per week, and average hours per day, making tradeoffs visible. The daily rotation lists which subjects appear most often, helping you avoid neglect. Use warnings to detect daily overload when a cap is set. Recalculate weekly as deadlines change, and keep ratings honest to stay aligned with reality. Export results to share with tutors or accountability partners.
FAQs
How many subjects should I include?
Include every subject you must study this week. Combine small topics into one subject if they share the same exam or deadline. For best balance, keep between four and ten subjects, then refine names as you track progress.
What is the review buffer used for?
The buffer reserves time for revision and practice, separate from learning new material. Use it for active recall, past papers, flashcards, and error review. Increasing the buffer is useful near exams, but it reduces new topic hours.
How do I rate difficulty, urgency, and importance?
Use 1 to 5 ratings. Difficulty reflects effort per hour, urgency reflects how soon you will be tested, and importance reflects grade impact or long term goals. Re-rate weekly when deadlines or understanding change.
Why do hours and sessions sometimes look rounded?
To keep plans practical, allocations can be rounded to a chosen step, like 0.25 hours. Small rounding drift is corrected by adjusting the highest priority subject. Sessions are counted from minutes, so totals can differ slightly.
What does the daily cap warning mean?
If you set a daily cap, the calculator checks each planned day against that limit. Warnings indicate overload risk. Reduce session length, increase study days, lower total hours, or simplify subjects until days fit comfortably.
Can I share or print the results?
Yes. Use the CSV download for spreadsheets and tracking, or the PDF download for printing. The Print button also formats the page for paper, removing input controls and keeping the plan tables readable.