Making and following a timetable is perhaps the most important part of competitive exam preparation.
How Does It Help?
It keeps you on track.
It keeps distractions under check.
It helps in structured preparation.
How To Frame Timetable?
Know yourself before you frame timetable. Know your sitting capacity, grasping power, demands of your optional etc.
Depending on these and other factors, make daily-weekly-monthly timetable.
Align timetable with test series schedule if you have joined one.
Daily Timetable:
Make daily targets in terms of number of pages to be read. Ideally, during 1st attempt preparation, you should be able to read 60-70 pages per day.
This is along with daily newspaper reading and notes making and coaching classes if any.
Include 5-10 minutes breaks at regular intervals apart from breaks for lunch, gym etc.
Ensure 6 hours sleep.
Weekly Timetable:
Weekly targets shall be framed based on your daily targets.
So, if you are reading 60-70 pages/day, you should be able to finish 1 book in a week.
Align weekly targets with test series schedule. Even if you haven’t joined test series, you should buy tests from market and finish weekly targets according to tests schedule.
My advice is to read max 2 subjects in a week. This ensures connectivity. You will also see tangible results when you are able to finish a book or a subject quickly.
If you have not made newspaper notes on daily basis then make same sunday to sunday.
Attempt one test per week, after you have finished 2 readings/revisions of course. Do not attempt tests without revisions.
Fortnightly Timetable:
Reflect upon weekly targets met or unmet.
Try to cover any left over targets.
If you feel that you need to revise chapters/book/subject read in the just ended weeks, then do so. Do not pick new subject if your mind is still on just completed task.
Review and revise daily-weekly targets every fortnight. This will ensure that you are studying according to your ability and nothing less than that if not more.
Extrapolating this, you will arrive at Monthly Targets and Timetable.
Following timetable is the core of preparation. If you are able to do it then you will definitely see fruitful results.
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