How Long Should I Revise for Each IB Subject?

📚 Recommended Weekly Revision Hours

Based on expert advice (RevisionDojo):

• Higher Level (HL): Aim for 6–8 hours per subject per week
• Standard Level (SL): Aim for 4–6 hours per subject per week IBO+9revisiondojo.com+9revisiondojo.com+9

Daily Study Tips

• Break study time into short, focused sessions (e.g., 50 minutes with 10-minute breaks).
• Spread study evenly: if you have 6 weekly hours in an HL subject, break it into ~1 hour per day over 6 days.
• Increase time during exam season (2–3 hours daily per subject as needed) revisiondojo.com.

Long-Term Planning

• Begin serious exam revision 4 months before exams, mapping weekly hours and key milestones .
• Structure by subject: consider dedicating one day per week per subject or pairing two subjects per day for variety Wikipedia+10clastify.com+10plusplustutors.com+10.

Intensive Revision Periods

• In the final 4–6 weeks before exams, ramp up revision.
• Consider “immersion days” with focused study blocks (6+ hours in one day) followed by active review.

Quality Over Quantity

• It's not just about hours—how you study matters.
• Active techniques like flashcards, practice tests, and past papers are significantly more effective than passive review IBO+13Reddit+13revisiondojo.com+13.

Sample Weekly Revision Schedule

Assume 3 HL and 3 SL subjects:

• HL subjects: 3 × 7 hours = 21 hours
• SL subjects: 3 × 5 hours = 15 hours
• TOTAL: ~36 hours/week
• Add time for TOK, EE, IAs, and CAS, especially in Year 2.

Customizing to Fit Your Needs

Adjust your schedule based on:

1. Subject difficulty: Harder subjects may need more time.
2. Personal strengths: Allocate fewer hours to subjects you’re strong in.
3. Syllabus weight: Prioritize subjects with more content or exam time.
4. Use revision peaks effectively—boost study when approaching deadlines.

Maximizing Study Efficiency

• Active learning: Use flashcards, quizzes, and mind maps.
• Past-paper practice: Familiarize yourself with question formats and timing.
• Review mistakes: Analyze weaknesses to guide future revision.
• Study groups: Peer review can be highly beneficial.
• Healthy habits: Maintain balance with breaks, exercise, and sleep.

Why This Framework Works

• Structure & consistency reduce last-minute stress.
• Balanced hours help prevent burnout and ensure coverage across subjects.
• Active methods boost memory retention and comprehension.
• Flexibility allows adapting based on deadlines and individual weaknesses.

🏆 Final Tips

• Start planning 4 months early; revise 4–8 hours per HL, 4–6 hours per SL weekly.
• Use study methods that maximize retention: active recall, timed practices, spaced repetition.
• Track progress and adjust weekly based on how you feel and what’s coming up.
• Stay balanced: include wellness activities to sustain long-term performance.

✍️ Call to Action

For tools, study plans, and expert-guided IB materials, check out RevisionDojo. Get personalized schedules, flashcards, and subject-specific guidance to help you study smarter and secure those top scores!