Planning and Timetables

The Key to Success

1. Decide on your study goal. It may be to complete all your homework in an hour. It may be to learn a syllabus for the Junior or Leaving Cert.
   
   Note that a study goal has two parts:
   - Material to be covered - like homework or a syllabus.
   - A time frame within which it has to be covered - a night, a week or a year.



2. Divide up the material into a list of things to do. A 'homework-to-do list' might be:
   - 3 maths problems
   - Read a chapter of history
   - Write first 3 paragraphs of an English essay



3. For each item on the list, guess how much time it will take and write this beside it. For example:
   - 3 maths problems - 30 minutes
   - Read a chapter of history - 50 minutes
   - Write first 3 paragraphs of an English essay - 50 minutes



4. Make a time frame. For example, a homework time frame might be as follows:
   - 7.00 pm
   - 8.00 pm
   - 9.00 pm
   - 10.00 pm



5. Put any fixtures that you can't avoid or don't want to miss into your time-frame. For example, a favourite TV programme.
   - 7.00 pm Homework
   - 8.00 pm Homework
   - 9.00 pm Favourite TV programme (30 minutes)



6. Slot the things from your 'to do' list into the frame, having a ten minute break at the end of every 50 minutes of study and working around your fixtures.
   - 7.00 pm Read History chapter, followed by 10 Minute break
   - 8.00 pm Do 3 Maths problems and plan 3 paragraphs of the English essay
   - 9.00 pm Favourite TV programme.
   - 9.30 pm Write 3 paragraphs of the essay.
   - 10.00 pm Homework finished.



7. Carry out your plan. Be proud of yourself it you can stick to it. If you can't, work out what the problem was. Try to plan better tomorrow.

Good luck with your study!