Weekly study planner

Set up a realistic week

Start with your year level, then replace the example subjects with your own. Mark when you are free after school, work and other commitments. Leave time for dinner, travel and winding down before bed.

Give more time to a subject with an approaching deadline or something you need to practise. Keep the first week manageable. You can move sessions on the timetable and change their length as you learn what fits.

Before each session, choose a task you can finish: answer 5 algebra questions, plan an essay paragraph or test yourself on key terms. A subject name tells you what to study. A task helps you begin.

How to make the plan stick

• Start with less. If you rarely study at home, try a few short sessions first. Add time once those sessions feel like part of your week.
• Use a familiar start time. Study at the same time on the days that allow it, perhaps after a snack. Have the first question and your materials ready before you sit down. Leave your phone somewhere else for the session.
• Try to remember before checking. Close your notes and answer a question, draw a diagram or explain an idea aloud. This is active recall. Check your answer, correct mistakes and try again later, rather than spending the whole session rereading.
• Return to topics across the week. Leave a gap between practice sessions for the same topic. Start the next session with a question from last time to see what you remember.
• Review after a week. Look at what you finished and which sessions you avoided. Was the task unclear, the session too long or the timing awkward? Change that part before adding more hours.
• Let a difficult day end. If you miss a session, choose the most urgent task and move it to a free slot. Shorten or drop something less urgent. Avoid packing every missed session into tomorrow or cutting into sleep.

Use it with a parent

Build the week together so family plans and travel are accounted for. You choose the study tasks. Ask your parent for something specific, such as a clear table or a reminder before the first session.

Agree on a weekly check-in instead of checking every session. Show what you finished and explain where you got stuck. If the work repeatedly takes longer than planned, ask your teacher which tasks to prioritise.

Holidays and exam weeks

For summer holidays, clear the school-week times and add the days you will actually be home. Put assigned holiday work into sessions before trips or work shifts fill the calendar. Leave days off. If you are starting Year 12, check your school’s preparation tasks before adding extra revision.

For exams, work backwards from each exam date. Give each session a topic or a set of practice questions. After a practice paper, set aside a session to understand mistakes and retry those questions. Keep breaks and a finish time, even when the week is busy.

Questions about your plan

How many hours should I study?

TMJ Tutoring suggests these starting amounts for homework, assignments and revision combined: 5 hours a week for Years 7 and 8, 7.5 hours for Years 9 and 10, 12 hours for Year 11 and 15 hours for Year 12. These are the example weeks in this planner, not a requirement or a target to reach at any cost. Follow your school’s guidance and adjust for your workload, health and other commitments.

What if my free time does not fit the suggested amount?

The planner only fills the time you have, with a break between sessions. It tells you how much fitted. Keep a lighter week if that is what works, and put urgent tasks first. If schoolwork regularly cannot fit, ask your teacher what to prioritise.

How do I make one session longer?

Drag the bottom edge of a session on the week, or click it and choose a length. To give one subject different session lengths, choose Mix lengths on the left. Then choose 30, 45, 60 or 90 minutes for each session.

What if I keep falling behind?

Check whether the tasks are too large or the free times are unrealistic. Split a task into something you can finish in one session and reduce the week if needed. For ideas about workload and worry, try the study stress check-in. Talk with a teacher or parent if the workload still feels unmanageable.

How do I plan around SACs?

A SAC is a school-assessed coursework task. Use your school’s dates to plan practice beforehand. Add or lengthen a session for that subject, with a clear task such as answering a question and checking mistakes. This tool does not know your assessment dates.

Can I use it before choosing my VCE subjects?

Yes. Try a week with the subjects you are considering and include commitments you want to keep. Read the guide to choosing VCE subjects to think through interests, prerequisites and workload.

Where is my plan saved?

In this browser only. Nothing is sent to TMJ. Print it or add it to your calendar to keep a copy elsewhere.