Study Plan Generator
Tell us your exam, how many weeks you have and how many hours you can study each week. We'll lay out a realistic phased plan and point you to the right pages.
Recommended study hours by exam
Typical upper-end ranges for someone newer to the area; experienced candidates often need less. Use them as the starting point for your plan above.
| Certification | Typical study hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCA | ~800 h | Study guide |
| AZ-104 | ~130 h | Study guide |
| AZ-900 | ~25 h | Study guide |
| CAPM | ~100 h | Study guide |
| CCNA | ~200 h | Study guide |
| CEH | ~160 h | Study guide |
| CFA Level I | ~300 h | Study guide |
| CFA Level II | ~300 h | Study guide |
| CFA Level III | ~300 h | Study guide |
| CISM | ~150 h | Study guide |
| CISSP | ~200 h | Study guide |
| CLF-C02 | ~30 h | Study guide |
| CMA | ~300 h | Study guide |
| CPA | ~400 h | Study guide |
| CS0-003 | ~130 h | Study guide |
| DVA-C02 | ~130 h | Study guide |
| GCP ACE | ~120 h | Study guide |
| ITIL 4 Foundation | ~45 h | Study guide |
| N10-009 | ~140 h | Study guide |
| PMP | ~180 h | Study guide |
| PRINCE2 Foundation | ~70 h | Study guide |
| PSM I | ~45 h | Study guide |
| SAA-C03 | ~140 h | Study guide |
| SY0-701 | ~120 h | Study guide |
Five principles of an effective study plan
- Weight your time by the exam domains. Give the heaviest-weighted domains the most hours — see each exam's "How the exam is weighted" section.
- Use spaced review. Re-touch last week's material for ~20 minutes each week so it sticks, rather than cramming once.
- Build in a buffer. Reserve 15-20% of your total time for weak-area revision and full-length mock exams near the end.
- Schedule backwards from the exam date. Fix a realistic date and work back, instead of planning forward from today and hoping.
- Be honest about weekly hours. Most people overestimate available study time by 30-50%. Plan for the weeks you will actually have.
FAQ
- How many hours should I study for my certification?
- It varies by exam and background. Foundational exams like AZ-900 need roughly 15-30 hours; associate cloud and security exams 40-140 hours; senior exams like CISSP 100-200+ hours; the CFA needs around 300 hours per level. Use the table below as a starting point.
- Does this study plan generator work for any exam?
- It covers the 22 professional certifications in our catalogue across IT, cybersecurity, project management and finance. Pick your exam, your available weeks and your weekly hours, and it lays out a phased plan.
- How should I split my study time?
- A reliable split is roughly 35% learning the material, 40% practising and applying it, and 25% reviewing weak areas with timed mock exams. The generator uses this split and maps it onto your available weeks.
- How many weeks should I give myself?
- Divide the recommended hours by the hours you can genuinely study each week, then add 15-20% as a buffer for revision. Most people overestimate their weekly availability, so plan conservatively.
- Is the plan a guarantee I will pass?
- No. It is a realistic scheduling guide based on typical study times. Your result depends on your background, the quality of your practice and your consistency, not just hours logged.