How Many Hours Should You Study Each Day for A Levels?

If you’re preparing for your A Levels, it’s easy to look around, compare yourself to classmates, and worry you’re falling behind. Some students boast about spending eight hours a day revising, while others claim they barely touch their books. 

The truth is, there isn’t a single “magic number” of hours that guarantees success. Everyone learns differently, at different paces, and what works for one person may not work for you. By understanding what’s expected at each stage of the A Level journey, you can build a plan that helps you stay on top of work without burning out.

What really matters is how you use your time, when you choose to study, and how consistent you are over the course of the year. In this guide, you’ll discover how to plan your study hours with clarity and confidence, from term time to the run-up before exams.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Answer

Your ideal number of study hours depends on a combination of factors. 

• First, your choice of subjects matters. Content-heavy subject such as Mathematics, Law, and the Sciences requires steady revision to manage the large amount of new material. By contrast, subjects like Media Studies, Film Studies, and English Literature are built around familiar content and essay-based assessment, which some students find requires less revision than other subjects.

• Your personal goals also shape your study routine. If you’re aiming for top grades or preparing for highly competitive courses, you may need to build in more time for practice and exam preparation.

• Finally, the time of year makes a big difference. The study rhythm you set in September won’t look the same as the one you’ll need in April. That’s why it’s better to think of study hours as a steady build-up of time and focus as exams get closer, rather than a fixed daily number from start to finish.

General Study Hour Guidelines for A Level Students

During Term Time (Months Before Exams)

During the school year, your lessons themselves form the foundation of your study. But what you do after school makes the real difference. Aim for an additional one to two hours of independent study each evening. 

Spend time reviewing class notes, rewriting key concepts into your own words, and creating revision tools like flashcards or summary sheets.

At weekends, you might extend this by adding two to four hours across both days. This is a good time to revisit challenging topics, do extra reading around your subjects, or practise exam-style questions. 

By steadily building up this habit, you’ll be setting yourself up to walk into exam season with confidence rather than panic.

During Holidays or Study Leave

When school lessons pause, you’ll need to take more responsibility for your routine. A realistic and effective target is three to six hours of study per day. Don’t try to do it all in one go, split your day into focused sessions. 

For example, you could use mornings to tackle heavier revision tasks such as re-learning tricky topics, spend the afternoon practising past papers or timed essays, and leave evenings for lighter review like flashcards, quizzes, or watching revision videos.

This structure not only keeps your brain active but also prevents burnout by mixing intensity with lighter consolidation.

During the Final Revision Period (4–6 Weeks Before Exams)

As exams approach, your routine should intensify. Aim for five to seven hours a day, but don’t fall into the trap of measuring success by time alone. What counts here is quality. 

Five focused hours spent doing active recall, exam practice, and reviewing your weak areas will get you far further than seven unfocused hours spent rereading notes.

This is the stage to sharpen your exam technique. Work through full past papers, practise under timed conditions like a mock exam, and pay attention to examiners’ reports. Instead of endlessly reviewing topics you already feel confident about, direct your energy towards the areas that still trip you up.

Study Hours by Subject Type

Every subject requires revision, but not in the same way. 

• Content-heavy subjects like History, Psychology, or Biology need you to pace yourself. The amount of detail involved can be overwhelming if you leave it too late, so schedule regular blocks throughout the year to test your memory and review your notes.

• Maths-heavy subjects work differently. Here, short but frequent practice is more effective than long study marathons. Regularly tackling problem sets keeps your skills sharp and helps you spot patterns in the types of questions that come up.

• Creative or coursework-based subjects bring their own challenges. In Art or Design, you might find your workload is shaped more by project deadlines than daily revision. It’s important to plan ahead so you can give coursework the time it needs while still keeping exam preparation on track.

Study Smarter, Not Just Longer

Studying harder doesn’t automatically mean achieving better results. What matters is studying smarter with proven revision techniques.

• The Pomodoro Technique is one of the most effective ways to maintain focus. By working in 25-minute bursts followed by five-minute breaks, you’ll keep your concentration sharp and prevent your mind from wandering.

• Another essential method is spaced repetition. Instead of cramming everything in the week before your exam, space out your review of each topic over weeks or months. 

• Combine this with active recall (testing yourself rather than rereading notes) to strengthen memory and deepen understanding. Flashcards, practice quizzes, and topic trackers are excellent tools for this.

Find out How to Improve Memory and Concentration with Education expert Jenna Quinn.

How to Avoid Overworking

While A Levels demand commitment, pushing yourself too hard can backfire. Overworking leads to burnout, where you feel tired, unfocused, and increasingly anxious. Signs to watch out for include:

• constant fatigue

• trouble concentrating

• losing motivation to study/being fearful of study.

The solution is to build rest into your schedule. Downtime isn’t wasted time, it’s part of effective learning. Make sure you get enough sleep, take regular breaks, and keep up with hobbies, exercise, and social time. These things refresh your brain and make your revision far more effective.

For more information on how to study in a way that’s that’s realistic, sustainable, and tailored to your life, check out our guide on How to Make an A Level Revision Timetable.

Quality Over Quantity: What Matters Most

It’s tempting to measure your progress by hours, but this can be misleading. Ten hours of passive revision, such as rereading and highlighting, won’t help nearly as much as three hours of active recall, exam practice, and reviewing mistakes.

Think of revision as training for a sport. You don’t just watch others play, you practise the skills you’ll need on the day. In A Levels, that means self-testing, answering past papers, writing essays, and pushing yourself under exam conditions. This is the type of revision that builds confidence and results.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours should I study per subject? 

How many hours you should study per subject depends on the demands of each subject. Content-heavy courses often need longer sessions, while Maths-based subjects benefit from shorter, frequent practice. The key is to spread your time proportionally but ensure all your subjects get regular attention.

Is it better to study at night or in the morning? 

The best time to study is when you’re naturally most focused. Many students find mornings are more productive, but if you’re sharper in the evening, that’s fine too. Consistency is what matters.

Should I study every day or take breaks? 

Studying most days is important, but breaks are essential. Build in at least one lighter day per week to recharge your focus and give your brain time to process what you’ve learned.

Final Thoughts

There is no universal number of study hours that guarantees A Level success. The best results come from consistency, balance, and effective study methods. 

By adjusting your routine to the stage of the year, tailoring your approach to each subject, and prioritising active methods like past paper practice, you’ll set yourself up for success without burning out.

Save My Exams has all the A Level revision resources you need to study your best, and achieve the grades you need for your future. And, remember, the goal isn’t to study longer than everyone else. It’s to study smarter, protect your wellbeing, and perform at your best when exam season arrives.