Faced with deadlines, have you ever tried to cram in a whole module in a night? While a supportive office chair can help you hone your focus, it can’t give you more time.
So what if we told you that using the 80/20 rule for studying could help you yield huge results by prioritising a small amount of your course. That’s exactly how the rule – sometimes known as the Pareto Principle.
Loved by management consultants and business gurus alike, we’ve put this guide together to help you use this golden rule to your own advantage.
What is the 80/20 rule and where does it come from?
The 80/20 rule was originally an economic principle discovered by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto in 1896. While studying wealth distribution in Italy, he noticed something intriguing – roughly 80% of the land was owned by just 20% of the population.
As he dug deeper, he found this pattern wasn’t unique to Italy. It appeared in other countries and even in his own garden where he realised 20% of his pea pods produced 80% of his peas!
When you apply this principle to practical things – like working and productivity – you can summarise it like this: 20% of your work causes 80% of the outcome. In other words, if you focus on the key 20% of whatever you’re working on, you can achieve most of your desired results.
This fits in with the idea that working harder not smarter and can be a life-saver if you’re up against deadlines and need to target your motivation on the most important work.
How to apply the 80/20 to studying
The key to using the 80/20 rule effectively is to be strategic about everything you’re going to study and in what depth before you start.
Here’s how to get started:
Find your critical 20%
Look for the topics that will give you the biggest return on your study time:
- Review past exam papers – what comes up repeatedly?
- Check your module guides for key learning outcomes.
- Look at marking schemes – find out which sections carry the most marks.
- Identify the foundational concepts that other topics build upon.
All of this should help you pull together the most foundational 20%.
Use active learning for these core topics
Once you’ve identified your key content, study it actively rather than passively. This will represent a better use of your time because you’ll learn it more quickly than with passive methods.
Here are some examples of active learning methods:
- Explaining concepts in your own words
- Teaching topics to others
- Solving practice problems
- Creating summaries and mind maps
When using these two methods together, you should find that studying the core of your topic becomes quicker and more focused.
Examples for different subjects
Wondering how to apply the rule to specific subjects? These examples might help you out:
History: Perfect your analysis of key events rather than memorising every single date.
English Literature: Learn to analyse a few key quotes deeply rather than memorising dozens.
Maths: Master core formulae – they crop up in every complex problem.
Engineering: Perfect your CAD skills – they’re used in every module and future job.
Economics: Master supply-demand and market structures – they underpin every module.
Computer Science: Focus on core programming concepts – they work across all languages.
A tried and trusted strategy
Management consultant Joseph Juran first demonstrated the principle’s potential in the 1940s when he showed that 80% of manufacturing problems came from 20% of defects. This insight transformed quality control in manufacturing, sparking much wider adoption of the principle.
Today, some of the world’s most successful organisations and thought leaders rely on the 80/20 rule. Here are a few notable examples…
- Microsoft uses it to tackle software bugs, finding that fixing 20% of the most reported issues resolves 80% of user complaints
- Steve Jobs famously cut Apple’s product line down to focus on a few exceptional products rather than many average performing ones.
- Even billionaire Warren Buffett applies a version of this principle to investing, concentrating on a small number of high-potential investments rather than a broad portfolio.
Common mistakes to avoid when using the 80/20 rule
Let us save you some common teething problems of using the 80/20 rule for studying. Here’s what not to do.
1. Misidentifying the correct 20%
Find that crucial 20% by reviewing past papers, course overviews and study guides to pick it out. Identify and focus in on the foundational concepts that everything else builds upon.
2. Completely ignoring the other 80%
Don’t take the rule too literally and skip everything else. The rule is about prioritisation, not elimination. You still need a basic grasp of all topics, the rule just tells you where to focus the majority of your efforts.
3. Poor time management
Many students fall into the trap of giving equal time to every topic because it feels safer. Fix this by putting your best energy into the most important stuff first.
4. Overthinking it
Don’t get too caught up in the perfect implementation of the 80/20 rule for studying. Remember, it’s meant to make studying more effective, not more complicated. So if you catch yourself overthinking it, return to the basic principle: identify what matters most and prioritise accordingly.
Searching for increased focus?
If 80/20 studying has caught your attention and you’re keen to explore the concept further, try these essential reads:
- The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch – The modern bible that made the principle accessible to everyone.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear – Shows how small, focused changes lead to big results.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly taking your productivity seriously. Here are some next steps you can take to improve your studying in other ways.
Take your setup seriously
Find out what colour lighting is best for studying as well as what music is best for studying to master your working environment. But don’t forget to invest in a quality ergonomic office chair and sturdy desk. You can only do your best work when you’re comfortable.
With free UK delivery within 5 days, your ideal study setup is just a click away.
