A study plan is a schedule that includes study times and goals. As a student, you should come up with a learning schedule that includes time dedicated to studying. A study plan helps you get through college and helps you become accountable for your learning outcomes. Besides, it increases your chances of passing your exams. Our guide will include tips on how to create a good study plan. We have also included the tools you will need.
Creating a Study Plan
Have you previously tried coming up with a study plan, but it keeps failing? There is no specific right way to when it comes to creating a study plan. Creating a good study plan depends mainly on your study goals.
A study plan will bring you closer to your academic goals. This is because it helps you manage your time effectively and handle your assignments before deadlines. Furthermore, you get to study for your exams before they are due. Here are some helpful tips you can use when creating a study plan
Develop a study strategy
There are different study techniques that you can use to make your reading and revision more successful. They include;
Reading- it is essential to read academic texts that are relevant to your course. Although reading texts can be consuming, they can help better your grade. Therefore, ensure you read the given or recommended texts in advance. Also, create a plan that leaves enough time for revision for you to recap the notes before exams.
Take notes- before discussing how to create a good study plan; it is crucial to understand the importance of developing a strategy. Taking notes is part of a study strategy and is the key to a good reading process.
Taking time to create notes will help in the long-run as you revise for your exams. When taking notes, you need to only focus on the essential points. Thus, refrain from rewriting the exact words in the textbook.
Reflection- what do you already know, and what have you already learned? An excellent way to review how much you know about a topic is by checking what you already know. Take some time to do this during revision, and you will spend your time wisely.
Consider group work- another effective method to study is by adopting group study. It offers a great way to seek clarification and support your peers.
Plan- we will discuss planning further when looking at tips on creating a good study plan. Scheduling your time in advance will ensure you have a smooth reading process. Also, planning saves time and makes it easy to read as it breaks reading into small doable chunks.
Practice questions- as you choose your reading technique, it is essential to leave time to practice questions. Questions are an ideal way to prepare you for exams and the exam setting. Luckily, most modules offer practice questions that you can add to your study plan and
Tools you can use
Creating a good study plan relies on the tools you use. You can either go old-school and use calendars and a notebook. Alternatively, you can go digital and use apps that you can download to your phone. Here are some apps that will help you create a good study plan;
Omnifocus– this is the best app to help you come up with a structured time frame. Thus, you can quickly get through your reading. Besides, the app also has a reminder feature that will remind you when to study. For more organization, the Omnifocus app allows you to categorize tasks for each module. Thus, you will always have an organized plan for your study schedule.
My Study Plan– available on iTunes, this free planner app can help you organize your reading and revision tasks. You can choose to import your exam schedule and, based on it, create a revision plan.
PDF Expert– you can use this app for reading texts in your course. With this app, you can highlight and annotate the book you read. Also, you can organize your reading material into various folders and sort them according to color. You will also find its inbuilt dictionary handy.
Studyblue– add more fun into your revision through the Studyblue app. It contains flashcards, which are an essential learning aid. Besides creating flashcards for your revision, you can also share them with your coursemates.
How to create a study plan
Are you wondering about how to create a study plan that actually works? Here is how;
Identify your current reading habits
How often do you study, and how effective is it? The first step on how to create a study plan is by identifying your current reading habits. So far, do you know what works for you and what doesn’t? Once you identify your study habits and what works best for you, you can develop an effective plan.
Create a to-do-list
Identify what you need to cover. That is the topics, upcoming assignments and assessments, and the exam dates. Then create a to-do-list including all the activities you need to handle. Note that this is just the first step, and having this list doesn’t mean you will complete them in a timely way.
Manage your time
As a college student, you probably have a lot to do. From attending classes, handling assignments, hobbies, and socializing, you can only do everything if you manage your time. Identify how much time you need for each activity and cover each unit. Now that you have a to-do-list come up with a timetable that includes every activity.
Come up with a weekly schedule
Before adding additional tasks, ensure you establish a consistent and doable rhythm. Therefore, begin by establishing a rhythm for the week and adding additional tasks once you get consistent.
Maintain accountability
The last step on how to create a good study plan is by maintaining accountability. It could be through a friend or coming up with a study group. However, if you notice that you end up socializing and storytelling more than studying during group work, you might need to study individually.
Conclusion
We have discussed how to come up with a good study plan. It begins with analyzing your current reading habit. Second, identifying all the tasks you need to do and the time needed for each activity. Third, you need to come up with a timetable including each activity and develop a schedule. Once you become consistent with your schedule, you can continue adding in additional tasks. Lastly, ensure you remain accountable. We have a list of some helpful apps if you find it hard to keep up with a pen and paper study plan.
