The Pareto Principle 

How to Study Effectively with the 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle) 

Many students spend hours going over every topic, trying to cover every inch of the syllabus. But here’s the truth: not everything you study has the same impact. Some topics matter more than others when it comes to your grades or exam success. That’s where the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, makes a real difference.

This principle says that roughly 80% of your results come from just 20% of your efforts. Applied to studying, it means that a small number of topics, questions, or concepts will drive most of your academic performance. The key is figuring out what those are.

Start by reviewing past papers, teacher feedback, and the syllabus. Spot the patterns. Which chapters come up again and again? What types of questions carry more marks or show up in multiple formats? That is your high-impact 20 percent. That is where your energy needs to go.

Once you have identified your priority topics, study them when your mind is sharp. Don’t just read them. Engage with the content. Solve practice questions, write summaries in your own words, quiz yourself. The more active your study approach, the deeper your understanding.

This doesn’t mean you ignore the other 80 percent. It just means you stop treating all content equally. When time is tight, studying effectively means focusing first on what actually moves the needle.

Using the 80/20 rule to study is about strategy, not struggle. It helps you gain confidence, make progress faster, and cut down wasted time. Over time, you will build a smarter, more focused way of learning that delivers better results with less burnout.