Monday, October 11, 2010

How to make a study timetable

Most schools and teachers will tell you you need one- the mystical study timetable, that will reportedly give you great grades, let you ace your exams, AND make sure you still have a life outside school! Probably, your school and teachers will give you advice on how to go about creating one of your very own; maybe they'll even give you samples from previous 'exemplar' students. However, most schools don't actually have a clue what they're talking about. So, here we go- a guide to making a study timetable in  7 easy steps.

Step One: Be realistic about what you're actually going to accomplish. There's no point writing in your timetable that you'll do homework from the time you get home until midnight if you know that there is just no way that's going to happen. If right now, you're only doing an hour of homework a week, and that only if you have to, maybe you should start lower. Like, you know, maybe aim to consistently do two hours of study a week, every week. Then you can change it later.

Step Two: Prioritise. In WA, we only need four subjects to get our ATAR. So if, like me, you're doing 6 subjects but you stupidly picked a subject that you suck at (I'm looking at you, physics)- why waste study time -that you don't really want to do anyway- on it? If you're only going to fail anyway (or just not do great at it) why bother? Focus on your four or five best subjects. Getting scores of, say, 80, 81, 76, 78, 82 and 80 might be more consistent, but it's still better to get scores of, say, 90, 85, 83, 87, 55, 57. Of course, you do have to do well enough in all your subjects to get the grade you need to pass, and thus, graduate. Graduating is important.

Step Three: Adjust your expectations. Remember how your teachers promised that, if you did this, you'd get great grades and ace your exams? Well, that can really swing either way- it depends on how low you set your standards! If all you're aiming for is a pass, I'd say getting 70% would count as 'aceing'. However, if, like me, you have insanely high standards, 80% is what you would term a 'disappointment' (depending on how I'm feeling, a fail, but don't worry, my friends generally yell at me until I stop whining.)

Step Four: Accept reality. Factor in time that you're going to spend doing shit all. It's much easier to just admit from the outset that, yes, even if you do have an essay due the next day, you're probably still going to spend an hour on facebook. At least if you know it's there you can plan around it.

Step Five: Write timetable. Put pretty pictures and inspiring quotes and random colours on it, if you want (I did. Well, I colour coded it, anyway.) Then put it somewhere you can see it (or several copies, all around the house, so that no matter where you go, you see it. It's an awesome way to try to self- guilt trip.)

Step Six: At some point... you're going to have to actually do some work. I know. It depresses me, too.

Step Seven: Be flexible about it. I mean, if you DO have a whole essay to write in one night, you should probably ditch some of the other subjects. Just for that night.

Additional Notes: Ok, so I've never tried this one, but it might be helpful if you need something out of a teacher/ the school admin. You know... like, "Please can you give me an extension, my study timetable says I can't make this deadline." I mean, even to me that sounds like the dumbest approach possible, but I bet it's worked at least once. If not... you should try it. For... science.

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