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Skills Check 0

The Skills Check is a short survey which should take you no more than 3 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the Skills Check we provide you with a personal learning plan targeted to your personal study needs and goals.

Sign in to work on the Skills Check.
  1. Home
  2. Revising and examinations
  3. Revision
  4. Making a timetable

Making a timetable

To work out a revision timetable first broadly plan out the areas of the module that you will cover. You can make more detailed individual session plans as you get around to each section.

What you include in your revision plan will depend on the time you have available and your own style and study habits. Make a note of

  • the submission date of your final assignment or project
  • the date of your exam
  • work, family and personal demands on your time
  • the number of weeks, days or hours you have available
  • the number of blocks, units, books or other materials you need to revise over that period.

A simple grid like the one below might be helpful. Decide how many hours you have for revision and allocate them accordingly. Don't forget to include time to eat, sleep, relax and keep other things going in your life!

Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Work Work Work Work AM Work AM Housework Revise 2 hrs
Work Work Work Revise 1 hr Shopping Revise 3 hrs Family
Revise 1 hr Sport Revise 1 hr Choir Evening out - Family

Be realistic about how much time you have and produce a timetable that spreads the workload and identifies what and when you should be revising in each session. If you are unsure about the areas you need to revise, ask your tutor or study adviser for advice.

Download a blank timetable (RTF, 75KB) to fill in, or simply make one of your own.

In this video OU tutor Ruth gives advice on past papers and tips on how to structure your timetable.

Think about where you are going to revise. Try to do your main work in a place you like to be, and you'll be more likely to spend time there. However, don't miss opportunities to revise elsewhere. Check whether your library is a quiet place. It can be helpful to be somewhere where you will not get distracted and also it will help you to get used to somewhere that is more like an exam location.

Some timetabling principles

"I put my plan on the fridge - that way everyone knows what I'll be doing."

Avoid being over-ambitious when you create your timetable. Not being able to keep up with it can be disheartening. Ensure you allow time for rest and relaxation. Allow a day or so immediately before the exam to review material, rather than continuing to try to cover new ground.

Look for short gaps in your routine that you could use for revision. Ten minutes of revision each day is much better than none!