Planning of study is one of the most important skills an IB student can learn — yet it’s the most ignored.
Many students work hard but still feel stressed, rushed, and behind. The problem isn’t intelligence or effort. It’s the lack of a clear study plan.
At IB Demystified, we see this every day: students who understand topics like the alternate segment theorem in Maths, but lose marks because revision, deadlines, and practice were never planned properly.
Planning of study simply means deciding in advance:
What you will study
When you will study
How long you will study
How you will revise and practice
Without a plan, students:
Study randomly
Focus on easy subjects
Ignore weak areas
Panic before exams
With a good study plan:
Work feels lighter
Time is used better
Stress drops
Results improve naturally
This is why top IB scorers don’t study more — they study smarter.
Before learning how to create a study schedule, let’s fix the common mistakes.
Motivation is unreliable. Planning builds discipline.
8 hours of study after school sounds good — but never happens.
Learning once is not enough. Revision must be planned.
Math, Biology, and English need different study methods.
This section goes beyond competitor articles by combining planning psychology with IB academic demands.
Start with honesty.
Ask:
Which IB subjects are hardest?
Which topics take more time?
Where do you lose marks?
Example:
If Functions in Maths HL take twice as long as English reading, your plan must reflect that.
Avoid this:
“Study Physics today”
Use this instead:
“Complete 10 projectile motion questions and review mistakes”
Small goals create momentum.
Daily schedules break easily. Weekly plans are flexible.
A strong weekly study plan includes:
5–6 study days
1 buffer/rest day
Short sessions (45–60 minutes)
Breaks between subjects
Example (IB Student):
Monday: Maths + TOK
Tuesday: Biology + English
Wednesday: Chemistry + IA work
Thursday: Maths revision
Friday: Light review
Weekend: Practice + rest
Your study schedule must work with school, not against it.
Never plan heavy study immediately after school.
Instead:
30–60 min break
Light task first
Hard subject second
Study difficult subjects when energy is highest.
Most students:
Focus best between 5–8 PM
Lose focus late at night
1.5–2 hours daily
Focus on concepts
Visual notes + short practice
3–4 hours on weekdays
5–6 hours on weekends
Dedicated IA and EE time
Parents play a huge role in study planning success.
Help create the plan
Check progress weekly
Encourage breaks
Praise consistency, not marks
Micromanaging
Comparing with others
Overloading schedules
Time management is a learned skill, not a personality trait.
You don’t need fancy apps, but these help:
Google Calendar
Notion
Simple paper planners
Weekly checklists
The best tool is the one the student actually uses.
A strong study plan helps students:
Finish syllabus earlier
Revise multiple times
Handle IAs calmly
Perform better in exams
It turns studying from stressful guessing into controlled progress.
Before learning how to create a study schedule, let’s fix the common mistakes.
Motivation is unreliable. Planning builds discipline.
8 hours of study after school sounds good — but never happens.
Learning once is not enough. Revision must be planned.
Math, Biology, and English need different study methods.
This section goes beyond competitor articles by combining planning psychology with IB academic demands.
Start with honesty.
Ask:
Which IB subjects are hardest?
Which topics take more time?
Where do you lose marks?
Example:
If Functions in Maths HL take twice as long as English reading, your plan must reflect that.
Avoid this:
“Study Physics today”
Use this instead:
“Complete 10 projectile motion questions and review mistakes”
Small goals create momentum.
Daily schedules break easily. Weekly plans are flexible.
A strong weekly study plan includes:
5–6 study days
1 buffer/rest day
Short sessions (45–60 minutes)
Breaks between subjects
Example (IB Student):
Monday: Maths + TOK
Tuesday: Biology + English
Wednesday: Chemistry + IA work
Thursday: Maths revision
Friday: Light review
Weekend: Practice + rest
Your study schedule must work with school, not against it.
Never plan heavy study immediately after school.
Instead:
30–60 min break
Light task first
Hard subject second
Study difficult subjects when energy is highest.
Most students:
Focus best between 5–8 PM
Lose focus late at night
1.5–2 hours daily
Focus on concepts
Visual notes + short practice
3–4 hours on weekdays
5–6 hours on weekends
Dedicated IA and EE time
Parents play a huge role in study planning success.
Help create the plan
Check progress weekly
Encourage breaks
Praise consistency, not marks
Micromanaging
Comparing with others
Overloading schedules
Time management is a learned skill, not a personality trait.
You don’t need fancy apps, but these help:
Google Calendar
Notion
Simple paper planners
Weekly checklists
The best tool is the one the student actually uses.
A strong study plan helps students:
Finish syllabus earlier
Revise multiple times
Handle IAs calmly
Perform better in exams
It turns studying from stressful guessing into controlled progress.
Planning of study is organizing what, when, and how you study to use time efficiently and reduce stress.
Most IB students need 3–4 focused hours on weekdays and more on weekends, depending on subjects.
Start small. Focus on weak topics first and plan weekly, not daily.
Parents can help by creating structure, checking progress weekly, and encouraging balance.
A schedule with short sessions, regular breaks, and flexibility works best.
Yes. Exam periods need more revision and practice time.
Yes. Consistent planning improves focus, confidence, and academic performance.
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