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Building an Effective Study Schedule
If you'd like one-on-one support to help you create an effective study schedule, book an Exam Preparation appointment on wlu.ca/studentsuccess.
Steps for Building an Effective Study Schedule
Use the the final exam study schedule template and follow along to build your own study schedule.
Step 1: Start with the non-negotiables.
- Block out the time for each of your exams (include time for travel and de-compress time before and after)
- If you haven’t already, confirm your exam dates, start times, and locations on the Final Exam Schedule and consult your course outlines to determine the length of your exam.
- Add in your work schedule, extra-curricular activities, family/friend events you plan to attend
Step 2: Review the daily routine examples and add your study blocks.
We recommend creating specific goals for each study session you create (i.e., what exam are you studying for and what material is your focus?).
- Add in 1 to 3 hour study blocks throughout the day
- Consideration is whether you prefer longer study sessions with fewer longer breaks or shorter study sessions with more frequent quick breaks. This is a personal choice, so choose the breakdown that helps you feel most productive and focused!
- Check out the below for inspriation for how to structure your study blocks
It’s important to create a schedule that incorporates retrieval practice (i.e., testing yourself without study aids and figuring out what you don’t know), interleaving (i.e., studying material in different orders than you learned them), and spaced practice (i.e., starting early and spreading out the study sessions spent on each course and topic).
Step 3: Include some “you” time.
Now it’s time to add in some downtime. Take time to consider open spaces in your schedule where you can include time to go for a walk, stop by the grocery store, call home, catch up with a friend, etc. Sometimes it can even be helpful to schedule your meals, so you don’t forget to eat when things get busy.
Don’t forget to include:
- Morning routine time to prepare for the day and night-time routine to wrap-up your day and reflect on your progress.
- At least three breaks of your choosing.
- Meals and snacks (food is fuel!).
- Consistent times to wake up and go to bed each day.
Remember: Once you've finished your full schedule, the white space in your calendar can be used for additional breaks or time to catch-up if some tasks take longer than anticipated. Don’t feel pressured to fill up every minute of your day!
Everyone's study schedule will look differently based on personal preferences and commitments, as well as the time of year. Create one that works best for you and your needs as a student!
Daily Routines Inspiration
Having a routine is important to keep yourself accountable and motivated, but creating a routine can be tricky! Thats why we created daily routines for you. Pick your favourites and get started or create your own.
8 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
8:30 a.m.: Study (4 hours)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
1:30 p.m.: Study (4 hours)
5:30 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
6:30 p.m.: Study (4 hours)
10:30 p.m.: Leisure time and relax
11:30 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and watch an episode
1 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and watch an episode
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and watch an episode
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Night routine and watch a couple episodes
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
10 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
11 a.m.: Leisure time + relax
Noon: Lunch
1 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
3 p.m.: Afternoon break
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner
7 p.m.: Night off / hangout with friends
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
7 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
8 a.m.: Commute to campus
9 a.m.: Study (3.5 hours)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
1:30 p.m.: Study (3.5 hours)
5 p.m.: Commute home
6 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Leisure time + relax
10 p.m.: Night routine
11 p.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
7 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
8 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 a.m.: Snack and morning break
11 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and break
2 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and afternoon break
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and leisure time
9 p.m.: Night routine
10 p.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
8:30 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
9:30 a.m.: Morning workout/run
11 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
2 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
4 p.m.: Snack and afternoon walk
5 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
7 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Stretch/light workout
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
8 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
9 a.m.: Clean room/apartment/house
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
2 p.m.: Grocery shopping/errands
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Meal prep for the week
7 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
7 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
8 a.m.: Commute to work
9 a.m.: Work shift
4 p.m.: Finish work + commute home
5 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
6 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
7:30 p.m.: Leisure time and relax
8:30 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
10 p.m.: Night routine + decompress
11 p.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
9 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + log on for a game
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Dinner + log on for a game
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Game for the rest of the night
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
9 a.m.: Wake up + breakfast with the fam
10 a.m.: Study (3 hours)
1 p.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
2 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
5 p.m.: Hangout with hometown friends
7 p.m.: Home for dinner
8 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
10 p.m.: Watch a movie with the fam
Midnight: Night routine
1 a.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
11 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
Noon: Study (2 hours)
2 p.m.: Lunch and afternoon break
3 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
8 p.m.: Study (3 hours)
11 p.m.: Snack and night-time break
Midnight: Study (1 hour)
1 a.m.: Night routine
2 a.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
8:30 a.m.: Wake up + morning routine
9:30 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
11:30 a.m.: Lunch + afternoon break
12:30 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
2:30 p.m.: Get ready for + commute to work
4 p.m.: Work Shift
8 p.m.: Finish work + commute home
8:30 p.m.: Dinner + evening break
9:30 p.m.: Study (1.5 hours)
11 p.m.: Leisure time + night routine
12:30 a.m.: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and afternoon break
1 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
3 p.m.: Snack and afternoon break
4 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
6 p.m.: Dinner and evening break
7 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
9 p.m.: Snack and night-time break
10 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
11 p.m.: Leisure and night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
9 a.m.: Wake up and morning routine
10 a.m.: Study (2 hours)
Noon: Lunch and coffee with a friend
1 p.m.: Study with friends (4 hours)
5 p.m.: Snack and call home
6 p.m.: Study (1 hour)
7 p.m.: Dinner with friends
9 p.m.: Study (2 hours)
11 p.m.: Night routine
Midnight: Bedtime
Try studing with the Power Hour technique.
Looking for Additional Support?
Visit the Student Success Portal to register for a Exam Preparation workshop or book an Exam Preparation appointment with a Learning Consultant or Peer Academic Coach.