Exams are right around the corner, and time feels like it’s slipping away. It might seem like there’s just too much to study and not enough hours to cover everything. But the real secret isn’t about finding more time—it’s about using your study time the right way. So, let’s break it down and see how you can study more in less time without draining yourself out.
-1 strategy : The fake deadline trick
Most students begin studying at a slow pace, assuming there’s plenty of time. Then suddenly, panic mode kicks in as the exam is just a day away. This happens because of Parkinson’s Law—the more time you have, the more you stretch your tasks. But what if you could study smarter instead? By tweaking your approach, you can study effectively, retain more, and make the most of your time without last-minute stress.
How to study more in less time?
Set a fake study deadline—if your exam is on March 25, train your mind to believe it’s actually on March 24. Act like there’s no extra study time left—no distractions, no unnecessary breaks, and definitely no “I’ll do it later.” The key is to eliminate procrastination because every minute wasted today will be a regret tomorrow. This sense of urgency pushes your brain into high-efficiency study mode, allowing you to study more in less time without even realizing it.
Cut down time on solving SQPs and PYPs
Solving Sample Question Papers (SQPs) and Previous Year Papers (PYPs) is essential, but if your study sessions always take the full 3 hours, you’re not really boosting efficiency. Instead of just going through the motions, you need to refine your study approach, cut down unnecessary time, and train your brain to study more in less time while maintaining accuracy.
How to fix this?
Increase study speed. If your exam is 3 hours, challenge yourself to complete the paper in 2.5 hours during practice.Focus on study accuracy. Speed is pointless if mistakes pile up. Train your brain to study faster while keeping answers correct.Analyze study mistakes. Don’t just check your marks—study where you went wrong, fix those errors, and avoid repeating them in the actual exam.
Stop wasting time in unnecessary theory writing
Many students waste study time writing long theory answers, even for topics they already know well. Instead of spending hours rewriting the same information, focus on efficient study techniques that save time while keeping concepts fresh.How to study smarter?Write only keywords in a point-wise format instead of full sentences.Quickly review these key points rather than rewriting everything.Use active recall—test yourself instead of
OMR Practice.
If your school uses OMR sheets for MCQ-based exams, practicing on them is just as important as studying the syllabus. Many students lose marks not because they don’t know the answers, but because they make avoidable mistakes while filling the sheet.How to improve OMR practice?Buy 4-5 OMR sheets per subject and practice filling them regularly.Increase speed and accuracy—misfilling even one bubble can cost you marks.Simulate real exam conditions to get comfortable with the format.Mastering OMR practice ensures that you study more in less time while avoiding last-minute errors that could hurt your score.
Don’t start a new difficult topic or chapter if exam is too close
A common mistake students make is starting a completely new, difficult topic just before the exam. This not only wastes valuable study time but also increases stress without real benefits.What to do instead?Focus on high-weightage chapters—these give you maximum marks with less effort.Revise PYQs to understand what’s most likely to appear in the exam.Strengthen what you already know instead of cramming new, complex topics.Using this strategy, you study more in less time while ensuring better retention and confidence on exam day.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, scoring well isn’t about studying for endless hours—it’s about making the most of the time you have. By setting fake deadlines, increasing speed and accuracy, cutting unnecessary writing, mastering OMR practice, and focusing on high-weightage topics, you can study more in less time without burning yourself out.Instead of stressing over what’s left, trust your preparation, stick to the plan, and walk into your exam with confidence. Because in the end, smart study beats long study—every single time.