Week 1: map outcomes and prerequisites
Collect the exam format and topic list, attempt a diagnostic sample and identify prerequisite gaps. Estimate how many sessions each topic needs using an actual trial session. Reserve some unscheduled capacity instead of allocating every available minute to new reading.
Weeks 2–3: build an evidence-based routine
Pair new work with retrieval of earlier topics. At the end of each week, compare fresh-question results with your planned outcomes. A topic stays in the queue if you need hints, even when its notes are complete. Replace unrealistic tasks with smaller, verifiable goals.
Week 4: practise selection and timing
Move towards mixed questions and assessment-like sessions. Learn to decide which method a problem needs without being told its chapter. Review time spent as well as correctness. Preserve time for correcting the mock; a score alone does not tell you what to do tomorrow.
Worked example
For eight topics, the first week may reveal that topics three and four depend on an unfamiliar prerequisite. The second week therefore includes two foundation sessions rather than blindly following the original order. At the third-week checkpoint, secure topics receive shorter reviews and the recovered time goes to mixed problems. The final week uses the actual exam format, not a new stack of summaries.
Before you finish
- There is a weekly checkpoint with fresh questions.
- Prerequisites are scheduled before dependent topics.
- Your plan contains spare capacity and a final rehearsal period.