PANIC

Exam in One Week and Haven't Started? Emergency Study Plan

One week isn't ideal but it's not hopeless. Here's the cramming strategy that works.

Exam in one week and you haven't started. Classic.Let's not waste time on guilt - you can't change the past week. Let's focus on maximizing the next 7 days.

The Brutal Truth

One week is not enough to master everything. But it IS enough to pass, and possibly pass well, if you're strategic.

The 7-Day Emergency Plan

Day 1: Reconnaissance

Get last 5 years' question papers
Identify topics that appear EVERY year
Note the marks distribution
Make a list of must-study topics

Day 2-4: High-Value Topics

Study ONLY the topics that appear repeatedly
Focus on understanding, not memorizing everything
Do solved examples from each important topic
Skip topics that rarely appear in exams

Day 5-6: Practice

Solve previous year questions
Time yourself
Identify gaps and fill them
Practice writing answers (not just reading)

Day 7: Revision

Quick review of all important topics
Memorize formulas and key points
Get your exam materials ready
Sleep early

Study Schedule Template

Time	Activity
6 AM - 8 AM	Fresh topic study (brain is sharpest)
8 AM - 9 AM	Breakfast + short break
9 AM - 12 PM	Continued study
12 PM - 2 PM	Lunch + rest
2 PM - 5 PM	Practice problems
5 PM - 6 PM	Break
6 PM - 9 PM	Revision + weak areas
10 PM	Sleep (non-negotiable)

What to Skip

Topics that appeared only once in 5 years
Extremely complex derivations (unless they're guaranteed)
Perfectionism - good enough is good enough
Social media, Netflix, gaming (just for this week)

You can do this. One week of focused effort can save your semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to feel this anxious?

Yes. Academic anxiety is extremely common among students. You're not weak or broken for feeling this way. But if anxiety is severely affecting your daily life, consider talking to a counselor.

Will this feeling pass?

Yes. The intensity of what you're feeling right now will reduce. Give yourself time to process, and focus on what you can control.