The SMART model Short- and long-term goal planner

Setting goals is an important step for planning ahead and staying on top ▽ Setting goals After creating a list of SMART goals, students can divide them into ▽ Different goals
of studies. Students who have specific goals, and reasons for achieving SMART is an acronym and stands for short-term and long-term goals, depending on how much time they Goals to be achieved this week or this
them, are more likely to be successful. Learners can start by brainstorming specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, think they will need to achieve them. It is useful to add steps for month can be put into the short-term
some ideas relating to their goals. Then, they will need to get more specific and timely. Students should aim to fulfil achieving each goal, to include some benefits for staying motivated, goals table, while goals that may take
and modify them to fit into the SMART model below. the SMART criteria for each of their goals. and to check one’s own progress regularly. The goals can be put up a term or a school year to fulfil can be
on a noticeboard, so that they are visible when studying. written into the long-term goals table.

Specific Measurable RESOURCE: Short-term goals

Steps for
Be very specific, Short-term goal Reason/benefit Progress check Time limit/deadline
achieving it
rather than general.
To narrow down the
goal, ask “Wh..?” A goal needs to be measurable
questions, such as in order to see progress. For
what?, where?, example, what are the marks
which?, and why? that the student is hoping for
in each subject?

How much time

SMART goal
Achievable
is needed to
achieve the
goal? Set a
time limit.

Take a reality check and only

Timely set goals that are realistic

and achievable. It is okay to

Relevant be ambitious, as long as the

goals are realistic.

Is the goal relevant to the student’s

progress? Is it a target of their own, and not
one that somebody else has set for them?
▽ SMART check PRESOURCE: Long-term goals
For each goal, students need to decide
Steps for
whether it fulfils these categories, and Long-term goal Reason/benefit Progress check Time limit/deadline
then adapt the goal if necessary.
achieving it
RESOURCE: SMART check

GOAL Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timely