Exam week, Finnish style: a 7-day study plan in focus rounds

October 29, 2026

Koa the pink koala in glasses reading a book next to the title Koeviikko lähestyy: lukusuunnitelma fokuskierroksilla

Short answer: start one week before exam week. First list every exam and topic, do the hardest subject first, and split your study into 25- or 50-minute focus rounds with a short break in between. Keep the last day light: review, pack your bag and get to bed on time.

4 min read
7-day plan
source linked

Key takeaways

Map it first: every exam, date and topic on one sheet.
Hardest subject first, while your energy is still fresh.
Focus rounds: 25 or 50 minutes, then a short break.
Review the same topic on several days instead of everything the night before.
The day before is light: review, bag, sleep.

Seven-day exam week plan: map it, hardest subject first, review, past papers, unclear parts, light review and rest, each day with a number of focus rounds — Seven days, small focus rounds. The round counts are examples; adjust them to your own exams.

What is a "koeviikko"?

In many Finnish upper secondary schools (lukio) the school year is split into five periods, and each period ends with an exam week, the koeviikko. The student guide of one Helsinki school, SYK, describes it exactly like that (Lukiolaisen opas 2025–2026, in Finnish).

During exam week there can be exams on several days in a row. That is why the plan works best when you make it a week before, not on the Monday of exam week.

How do I make a study plan in one week?

Take one sheet of paper and write down every exam with its date. Next to each, note the 3–5 topics it covers. Then spread the topics over seven days, like the plan in the picture.

Put the hardest subject in the first days. That leaves time to review it once or twice before the exam.

Koa's tip: start every round with one sentence: "After this round I can ___." A tiny goal makes it easier to begin.

How long should a focus round be?

Many students study for 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. For longer tasks like past papers, 50 minutes with a 10-minute break can work better. Try both and keep the one that feels natural to you.

We compared rhythms in more detail in 25/5, 52/17 or 90 minutes.

Why review on several days?

Coming back to the same topic every few days is a well-known review tip; we wrote about it in our post on the forgetting curve. That is why days 3, 5 and 6 of the plan go back to topics you already covered.

One sheet, seven days, small rounds. That is enough to get started.

Koa says: pinkoa means to run fast, and in student slang, to study hard. For exam week you only need the second one. No running required.

What should I do the day before an exam?

Keep the last day light: go over your notes or flashcards, pack your bag and go to bed on time. Starting a brand-new topic the evening before usually just adds rush.