Study Time Calculator — plan your revision before the exam

The Pomodoro technique divides study into 25-minute focused blocks (pomodoros) separated by short breaks (5 min). After every four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 min). The method maintains concentration, prevents cognitive fatigue and makes it easy to track progress. The calculator suggests this technique for materials requiring more than 20 hours of study.

The average reading speed with comprehension for a dense academic textbook is 15–25 pages per hour. Information-heavy subjects (maths, law, medicine) may require 10–15 pages/h. Lighter humanities texts can be read at 30–40 pages/h. Enter your own pace in the calculator to get a result tailored to your material.

Divide the material into equal portions spread over the available days. Reserve the last day solely for revision and rest. Study at fixed times — research shows that consistency consolidates knowledge better than cramming just before the exam. The exam mode in the calculator automatically calculates how many hours per day you need.

Cognitive research suggests that effective deep study (deliberate practice) is possible for 4–6 hours per day. Beyond 6–8 hours, the quality of knowledge absorption drops. For students, 3–5 hours of self-study outside class time is optimal. The calculator will flag when the required daily pace exceeds these reasonable limits.

The spacing effect is the phenomenon whereby review sessions spread over time produce better retention than massed practice (cramming). Repeat material after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days. The calculator's planning mode suggests regular sessions specifically because of this mechanism.

According to Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve, after 20 minutes we remember about 58% of material, after an hour about 44%, and after a week about 25%. This is why regular revision is essential. Spaced repetition methods (e.g., in Anki) and active recall significantly slow this process.

Reading mode calculates the total time needed to read a given number of pages at a set pace. Exam mode additionally takes into account the number of days until the exam and the hours available per day — it tells you whether you have enough time and how many hours you need to study each day. Planning mode provides general scheduling recommendations.

Effective methods include: active reading (notes, questions about the text), eliminating subvocalisation (mentally sounding out every word), practising chunking (taking in groups of words at a glance) and regular practice. A speed-reading course can increase pace by 50–100%, but comprehension must not be sacrificed for speed.

The calculator shows pure study hours without breaks. When planning your daily sessions, factor in that 3 hours of actual study takes roughly 3.5–4 hours of clock time. Add approximately 20–30% buffer time for breaks, mental warm-up and reviewing current material.

Yes, though recommended session lengths differ by age. Primary-school children (7–12 years) maintain concentration for 20–30 minutes. Secondary-school students for 45–60 minutes. University students for up to 90 minutes without a break. For younger children, reduce session lengths and increase break frequency compared to the calculator's raw output.