Working Backwards From a Deadline · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Plan backwards from the exam date

Learning to Learn · Learning to Learn · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What three things must each revision session name?

    • Subject, teacher and room
    • Pages, pens and snacks
    • Date, length and topic

  2. What does a backwards plan start from?

    • The easiest topic
    • The exam date
    • The longest chapter

  3. A good plan uses only the hours left after school, travel, sleep and commitments.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A week has 168 hours. School takes 30, travel 5, sleep 56, meals 14 and clubs 4. How many free hours are left to plan with?

    Answer: ______________

  5. Sam plans ten hours of revision in a week with only six free hours. What should Sam do?

    • Cut topics on purpose and say what was dropped
    • Keep every topic and hope for the best
    • Skip sleep to make the hours fit

  6. Why do the hardest topics get the earliest sessions?

    • So the plan looks neat
    • So easy topics feel harder
    • So a missed day never eats them

  7. The exam moves one week earlier. What is the first thing to redo?

    • Move the deadline and refit sessions backwards
    • Delete the hardest topics at once
    • Keep the old dates and just rush

  8. Lea lists every chapter with no dates and no lengths. What is wrong with her plan?

    • It has too few topics
    • It names no dated sessions, so starting stays vague
    • Lists of chapters are always enough
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_DrdBx9c0pf-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Plan backwards from the exam date W1-mt_DrdBx9c0pf-s1

  1. Date, length and topic · Date, length and topic together turn a wish into a promise.
  2. The exam date · You fix the deadline first, then fill sessions backwards from it.
  3. True · Cross out busy hours first, then plan only with the gaps left over.
  4. 59 · Add the busy hours, then subtract from 168 to find the real budget.
  5. Cut topics on purpose and say what was dropped · Deliberate cuts beat pretending. Say what went and move the time to likely marks.
  6. So a missed day never eats them · Early slots protect hard topics, and sharp hours earn the most marks there.
  7. Move the deadline and refit sessions backwards · A plan you update stays a plan. Refit from the new date and recheck the fit.
  8. It names no dated sessions, so starting stays vague · Without a date and a small next step, delay wins and nothing starts.
Worksheet · LightMySky