A free study timer that runs in your browser: pick a study preset, add what you need to revise, and press Start. The timer handles the clock so you can think about the material, not the time.
Why study in timed sessions
Most study time is not lost to big distractions but to small ones: checking a message, rereading the same page, deciding what to do next. A study timer turns an open-ended evening into a series of short, clear commitments. You only have to stay with one topic until the alert, and then you get a real break.
This page uses the same timer as the home page, built on the Pomodoro Technique®, with presets tuned for revision. Your tasks, settings and history are shared between both pages, so you can switch at any time.
How to use the Pomodoro Technique® to study
- Split what you need to learn into small tasks: one chapter, one problem set or one topic each.
- Choose a preset. Start with 25 / 5 if it is hard to get going, or 50 / 10 for material that needs a longer run-up.
- Work on a single task until the alert sounds. Questions that pop up go on the task list, not into a new browser tab.
- Take the break away from your desk, and take a longer one after a few sessions.
- At the end of the day, check the report and plan tomorrow's sessions from what you actually finished.
That is the whole method. It will not make hard material easy, but it makes it much easier to sit down, stay with one subject, and stop before your attention runs out.
Which preset should you choose?
25 / 5 – the classic
Best for starting when motivation is low, for memorizing vocabulary or formulas, and for subjects you find hard. Short sessions keep the bar low and give you frequent chances to reset.
50 / 10 – longer study blocks
Good for problem sets, essays, reading long chapters and coding exercises, where it takes a few minutes to get into the material. You lose less time warming up, and the 10-minute break is long enough to actually rest.
90 / 20 – exam simulation
Use it sparingly, for past papers and mock exams that last as long as the real one. Few people can do more than two or three of these in a day, so plan them on purpose.
There is no perfect length. Try one preset for a week, look at your report, and adjust. If you keep stopping before the alert, go shorter. If the alert always interrupts you mid-thought, go longer.
How to plan a study session
- Write down what you need to cover as tasks: one chapter, one problem set or one topic per line.
- Estimate the number of sessions for each task. The finish time shows whether your plan fits the evening.
- Start with the task that matters most, not the one that is easiest to begin.
- Before you press Start, put your phone in another room or face down with notifications off.
- When the alert sounds, stop, even mid-sentence. Leave yourself a one-line note on where to pick up.
- At the end of the day, compare planned and finished sessions and adjust tomorrow's estimates.
What to do inside a session
The timer only protects your time. What you do with it decides how much you remember. These methods are well supported by learning research and fit neatly into timed sessions:
- Active recall: close the book and write or say what you remember, then check. Testing yourself beats rereading.
- Spaced repetition: review a topic again after one day, a few days and a week instead of cramming it once.
- Interleaving: mix different types of problems in one session instead of doing twenty of the same kind in a row.
- Explain it simply: try to teach the idea in plain words. Where you get stuck is what you need to review.
- Practice under exam conditions: timed past papers show you what you really know and train your pacing.
How to take study breaks that help
A break works when it gives your eyes and attention a rest. Scrolling a feed usually does the opposite and makes it harder to start again.
- Stand up and move: walk, stretch or do a few squats.
- Drink water or make a tea.
- Look out of a window or at something far away.
- Close your eyes and let your mind wander.
- On a long break, eat something or get outside for a few minutes.
If a break keeps running long, turn on auto-start for focus sessions in Settings so the next session begins without a click.
Exam season: a sample study day
Here is one realistic plan with the 50 / 10 preset. Adapt it to your own timetable and energy.
- Morning: three sessions on the hardest subject, then a long break.
- Early afternoon: two sessions of practice questions on a second subject.
- Late afternoon: one timed past paper with the 90 / 20 preset.
- Evening: two short 25 / 5 sessions of flashcards and a quick review of the day's mistakes.
That is about seven hours of focused work, which is already a lot. Sleep, meals and time outside are part of the plan, not a reward for finishing it.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How long should a study session be?
Between 25 and 50 minutes works for most students. Start with 25 / 5 if you struggle to begin, and move to 50 / 10 once you can stay with the material without drifting.
25/5 or 50/10: which is better for studying?
Neither is better for everyone. 25 / 5 makes it easier to start and suits memorizing and hard subjects; 50 / 10 suits problem sets, essays and long reading, where warming up takes a while. Try one for a week, then compare your reports.
How many hours a day should I study with a timer?
Six to ten focused sessions, roughly three to seven hours of real focus, is a strong study day for most people. Quality drops long before you notice it, so it is better to stop on time and sleep well.
Is my study history saved?
Yes, in your browser on this device. The report shows today's, this week's and this month's study minutes, your streak and time per task. Export it as CSV or JSON if you want to keep a copy.
Can I use this study timer on my phone?
Yes, but keep the page open on screen. Phone browsers usually pause web pages when the screen is locked, so the alert may be late. Turn on the keep-screen-on option if your browser supports it.
What if I finish a task before the session ends?
Use the remaining minutes to review what you just did or to start the next task. Mark the task as done and select the next one; the running session will count for the task selected when it ends.
Can I study with friends using this timer?
There are no shared rooms, but everyone can open the same preset and press Start together. The timer runs on each device independently.
Written and maintained by the Tomatock team · Last reviewed