The 3-Step Study Plan

Table of contents

The 3-Step Study Plan for a Stress-Free Exam Phase

You almost always think you still have enough time to deal with exam preparation. But then the exam phase in January and February often arrives faster than expected. While December is full of classes, appointments, and holidays, the days leading up to the exams suddenly come closer and closer. To avoid stress and find a balance between studying and free time, early study planning is worthwhile for students – ideally already in November. So, have you already thought about creating a study plan? If your answer is “no,” then it’s definitely time, because if you can create a study plan, you’ve already won half the battle. Creating a study plan helps you organize all your study materials, prioritize relevant topics, and use your time optimally. An individual study plan offers many advantages and ensures that you can study for your exams in a relaxed and structured way.

With this 3-step plan, you’ll learn how to create a meaningful study plan for university and which templates can help you—especially how to develop an effective study plan step by step that you can flexibly adapt to your study days and weekly schedule.

Step 1: Structure Study Material & Create a Study Plan

Before you start studying, you should collect all relevant topics from your lectures, exercises, and seminars. Think about how many weeks remain until the exam date and how much study time is realistic for you. Whether it’s a term paper, bachelor’s thesis, or exam, you benefit from a study plan in every area. So create an overview with a personal study plan, because a clear overview helps you determine how much time you need to invest to prepare properly.

Achieving Study Success with Structure and Templates

A structured study plan with a suitable template—for example, in Excel—will guide you toward study success. A weekly schedule will give you clarity about when you should study, which learning units are coming up, and what your final study plan might look like.
Such templates can greatly simplify studying because you can immediately see:
• which content you need to work through
• how many study units you need per chapter
• how much time you can allocate per day or week
• what your personal study rhythm looks like
But don’t forget to schedule buffer times so your study plan doesn’t become too tight. These help you stay flexible and avoid stress if a topic takes longer or if something unexpected comes up.

Plan Buffer Times Based on Deadlines

A common mistake students make is calculating their time too tightly and realizing just before deadlines that not everything is completed. Therefore, schedule a weekly buffer time in your plan. If you need to review a chapter shortly before the exam or have low-energy days, the buffer zone ensures you won’t run out of time.

Break Study Material into Small Units

Divide your study material into manageable, small study units. Smaller units keep you efficient and allow you to monitor your progress more easily.

Create Your Own Study Plans: Sample Study Plan (1 Week)

The following template shows what a completed study plan may look like:

Day	Content	Study Units	Buffer
Monday	Read Chapter 1	2 × 45 min	10 min
Tuesday	Practice exercises	1 × 45 min	15 min
Wednesday	Review (Active Recall)	2 × 25 min	10 min
Thursday	Chapter 2	2 × 45 min	10 min
Friday	Summary	1 × 60 min	15 min
Saturday	Study-free time	–	–
Sunday	Create weekly overview	1 × 30 min	–

You can adapt this study plan template flexibly to your semester, exam dates, and study phase and always know exactly which content you want to study and when.

Step 2: Exam Preparation with Study Methods

Once you have created your study plan, it’s time to use your study time efficiently. Scientifically proven study methods can help you remember study material better.

Pomodoro Technique for Focused Study Sessions

With the Pomodoro Technique, you divide your study time into clear intervals:
• Focused study: 25 minutes
• Break: 5 minutes
This method is especially helpful if you want to use your study time optimally.

Active Recall & Review

With the Active Recall method, you test yourself actively to strengthen your long-term memory. This is ideal because you can always check what you have truly memorized.

Combine Study Methods Effectively

Of course, you can also combine different methods such as mind maps, summaries, flashcards, or practice exercises. Try them out and find out how you learn best.

Step 3: Master the Exam Phase with Energy, Sleep & Balance

Remember: To stay focused and motivated, you need energy, sufficient sleep, movement, and a balanced diet.

Get Enough Sleep & Plan Study Days

Schedule regular study days on which you consistently follow your study plan. Make sure you sleep enough (7–9 hours) to stay focused and retain information more effectively.

Nutrition for More Focus

Stay motivated with light, nutrient-rich foods like fruit, oats, soups, or nuts. Good nutrition = efficient study time.

Promote Balance & Avoid Stress

To avoid stress while studying, take regular breaks so you can get fresh air and move around. These routines help you stay balanced.

Summary: Clear Study Plan = Stress-Free Exam Phase

How to prepare for exams effectively:

• planning your study time
• creating study plans and templates
• scheduling buffer times
• choosing a study method
• starting early
• incorporating regular review sessions