Tackling big assignments- Breaking tasks into chunks and prioritizing what to do first

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by your assignments, there are a few tricks you can use for help staying organized. These techniques will make your assignments easier to tackle so you can get started instead of dreading them.

Figure how much time you need

To be successful with assignments, you need to make sure to give yourself enough time to complete them.

  • Allow about 1-2 hours for every 5% an assignment is worth. For instance, an assignment worth 20% will take about 8 hours.
  • Plan to spread out the work and start early. For an assignment requiring 8 hours, you could work on it for 2 hours a week for 4 weeks.

Use an assignment tracker

A big assignment can seem daunting when viewed as a whole, and it can be difficult to get started. If you break the assignment into smaller steps, it can feel more manageable. This will also help you plan enough time for each step. An assignment tracker tool can help with breaking assignments into steps.

To use an assignment tracker:

  1. Read the entire assignment and think about what you will need to do to complete it.
  2. Make a list of all of the steps to complete this assignment, e.g. brainstorming ideas, creating an outline, writing a rough draft. Use one line for each stage.
  3. Give yourself a completion deadline for each task.
  4. Check off each of the tasks as you finish them.

Watch the video below for a quick demonstration. You can also see more details on the Planning an Assignment page in the Essential Study Skills guide.

Use a Task List

With multiple steps to complete your assignments, multiple assignments on the go, and other tasks to complete, a task list can help you keep track of what you need to work on first. To make a task list, you will need to determine which tasks are most important and urgent and use that to prioritize your list. Watch the video below for instructions.

Want to learn more strategies? Check out our other study skills tips.