How I Make a Study Schedule: My Year 10 Routine to Stay Ahead

Want to know how to make a study schedule so you’re prepared for senior years? Juggling school and extracurriculars can be overwhelming. Here’s how Year 10 student, Isaac, is doing it to stay ahead and reach his goal of getting into Medicine.

Table of contents:

• Me, myself, and I
• My study schedule
• How I prepare for an exam
• My achievements
• My regrets
• My advice to future Year 10 students

Me, myself, and I

Hi! I’m Isaac, I’m 15 and currently in Year 10 at Sydney Grammar School. I love playing chess and spend my spare time listening to music, gaming, and playing sport—especially rowing, tennis, and table tennis.

In this post, I’ll share the exact study schedule I use during the year and the study tips that helped me improve my marks and find balance.

Right now, I’m focused on my goal of studying Medicine at UNSW. To help with that, I’m currently taking Year 11 Extension 1 Maths and Year 10 English at Matrix Education. I chose to take these two courses at Matrix as I wanted to accelerate my Maths and improve my writing.

My study schedule

Term study routine

During the school term, I try to stick to a routine that helps me keep a good balance between study and extracurriculars. If you want to know how to make a study schedule that works long-term, it starts with planning ahead.

Always plan your afternoons before the week begins. Every Sunday, look at what assessments, tutoring classes, sports, and extracurriculars you have on, and block out time for each. The main purpose of this is so you can achieve everything you want to, without burning out.

Here’s how to make a study schedule:

1. Start with fixed commitments: Schedule your school hours and extracurriculars first.

2. Add study blocks around them: Even short sessions can make a big difference if you’re consistent.

3. Add buffers: Leave space for breaks or catch-up work so you’re not constantly behind.

4. Stick to your plan, but stay flexible: Life happens. Adjust where needed, but avoid skipping your core sessions.

For example, here’s my daily study timetable during the term:

I always make time for my extracurricular activities because I know it helps relieve stress from my busy school life and keeps a healthy work-life balance.

Going to Matrix every week has also been very useful during the school term.

• Maths quizzes every week help me regularly track my understanding of the concept and identify knowledge gaps.
• English textbooks are very thorough and include regular writing tasks that have helped me improve my writing skills.

Seeing my marks improve using these resources has kept me motivated throughout the term.

Holiday study routine

The holidays are a well-deserved break, but I think it’s still important to use the holidays to stay on track with your goals. Each school holiday period, I make a timetable so I know what to study each day and spread it out evenly.

I highly recommend having a holiday routine as it helps you stay consistent and motivated.

Since you have more time in the holidays, try to stick to 90-minute study sessions with active breaks. This will keep your brain fresh and ensure every day of your holidays is productive, but still a holiday.

Here’s my typical daily study timetable for the holidays:

Even though I don’t take holiday courses, I still use my Matrix resources. The Maths theory books have clear, concise notes and good practice questions. The English books give really useful annotations and suggestions that helped me improve my writing.

How I prepare for an exam

When exams come around, I like to revise all the material first, using the Pomodoro technique. So, instead of studying large chunks of material, I break my studying down into smaller, 25-minute sessions with breaks in between. You always need break to clear your mind and refocus.

My study notes are different for each subject:

• Flashcards for Languages

• Formula sheets for Maths

• Quote sheets with annotations for English

Match your note method to the subject.

Of course, each person has their own preferred method of study, and finding what works for you is important. But in general, reducing distractions and staying organised is a good place to start.

Most subjects are complicated and include lots of details. When you’re stuck on a concept, get help straight away.

Getting help ASAP saves time and prevents frustration later. Ask your teacher for feedback after class, even if it’s only for 5 minutes. You can also try to form a study group with your friends (they might have better ways to explain things to you).

If I need help clarifying any concept, I go to the one-to-one sessions with tutors at Matrix. The Theory Books also have concise notes, which save me time when revising for exams.

For example, the Maths homework test covers all the essential concepts from class and includes more challenging problems, which have been fun to try to solve.

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My achievements

I am yet to sit my first set of exams this year, but my performance has definitely improved since I started Matrix. This has been evident in my better English marks as well as my increased confidence in writing longer pieces of text.

In Maths, my course has reduced the number of silly mistakes I make during practice papers. I’ve also started solving more of the tougher, high-difficulty questions that used to throw me off.

These early wins have motivated me to keep going and reassured me that my current routine is working.

My regrets and lessons from Year 10

Find your study method early

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how important it is to figure out your study method early. Everyone learns differently, and it takes time to experiment and find what actually works. The sooner you discover your best study approach (Pomodoro, mind maps, study groups, or something else), the more confident and efficient you’ll be.

Exams are only checkpoints

Exams aren’t as important as we think they are!

Use each exam to review your progress, learn from it, and improve in the next exam. That mindset shift has helped me take the pressure off and focus more on growth. What was easy? What was hard? What can you do to improve?

Pay attention in class

If I could restart the year, I’d pay more attention in class. It’s much easier to use your time at home to review and consolidate what you’ve already learned, rather than having to relearn everything from scratch.

Start sooner

I also wish I had started Matrix earlier. The support would have definitely helped with my Maths in earlier years and improved my essays, which in the past I have lost most of my marks in. If you’re stuck now, the content only gets harder. So, ask for help now.

My advice to future Year 10 students

• Make concise notes throughout the school term
• Learn at school and revise at home
• Keep a study schedule and list of things you must do and when it’s due
• Procrastination only builds up and adds stress
• Have a healthy work-life balance; Studying nonstop won’t produce results equivalent to the amount of time you put in.
• Keep your phone in a different room while you’re studying.
• Attend Matrix if you want to make studying easier, have a bank of practice questions, and have tutors who are ready to answer all your questions.

Ready to level up your study like Isaac?