Time management is a crucial skill not only for test taking, but also for getting through a course comfortably. Here are a few tips about time management.

Identify the syllabus type.

There are two basic kinds of syllabi—those that focus on the big picture (the forest) and those that focus on the day-to-day work to be done (the trees). A day-to-day syllabus will provide a very detailed schedule of what work is to be done on what day. A big picture syllabus simply provides due dates for large assignments, but never suggests what reading or other work you should be doing at any particular time.

The Day-To-Day Syllabus

1. Locate the major tests and assignments. Make sure that the syllabus includes the work (planning, thinking, writing, reviewing, etc.) you will need to do to complete those assignments or prepare for those tests. If it does not include that work, then write it into the schedule of daily assignments on your own syllabus.
2. Highlight the major tests and assignments. It is crucial that these be accomplished and that you be prepared when testing occurs. The highlighting will prevent your eye from skipping over an important item and then being caught unaware.

The Big Picture Syllabus

1. Create a grid with the list of all the days in the semester. (You will want to include days the class doesn’t meet, including weekends.)
2. Make a day-to-day schedule. Noting when exams and papers are due as well as what reading is being required (or other activities), divide the work into daily units of reasonably uniform size. Be sure to provide time for review before tests and time for preparation of papers.
3. Keep a sense of time. As you begin to move through the semester, you should be able to gauge how much time daily you will need to do the work you have mapped out.

General Precaution

Always be sure to make a copy of the syllabus to keep in a safe spot in your room. Students can easily lose a syllabus and you do not want to be without one. Always try to create an alliance with one or two people in a class who seem particularly responsible. As a group you can share phone numbers and agree to provide notes and explanations for any student in the group who has had to miss a class.