Managing clustered deadlines

Devise a plan to spread out your workload

Illustration of Assignment A and calendar

Students often complain that, like buses, there are no serious deadlines for a while...

Illustration of having two assignments with characters organising a calendar

... and then several come at once.

You might need to submit several assignments within days of each other, or sit two exams on the same day.

I feel stressed when deadlines cluster together, and worry that I won’t be able to complete two assignments for the same day.

Sounds like me

Not at all like me

Sounds like you? If you worry about deadlines and exams clustering around the same date, then ease your stress through good forward planning. It takes self-discipline, but is worth it for better grades and happier study. You’ll find helpful pointers on this page.

Not at all like you? Great! Good forward planning pays off when it comes to clustered deadlines. Discover new strategies for managing clustered deadlines in this article.

Instead of worrying that the deadlines are close together, make a schedule that spreads the workload for each one over several weeks. This is better for learning and recall, as interacting with and recapping material helps cement knowledge into your long-term memory, and reduces stress.

Select the headings below to view five strategies for managing clustered deadlines and exams.

Take the view that you have been given additional time to hand in one of your assignments or prepare for one of your exams – if they were on different dates, you would probably have been given less time for one of them.

If two deadlines fall on the same day, set your own deadlines for completing one assignment early.

Plan out exactly when you will undertake the various tasks required for each assignment. If you have several exams in quick succession, draw up a revision timetable which captures all the topics you need to revise.

Remember to factor in other commitments, such as caring responsibilities, voluntary or part-time work and extra-curricular activities, so that your schedule accurately reflects the time available to you.