Prepare for an exam by working backwards

I have {{exam}} in {{days}} days. Syllabus: {{paste}}. Past paper patterns: {{describe or paste}}. My current state: {{what's solid, what's shaky, what's untouched}}.

1. Work backwards from the exam: what question types appear, with what weighting, and what each demands (recall, derivation, application, essay judgement).
2. Map my weak areas onto that weighting and rank by marks-at-risk per hour of study. Say plainly what to abandon.
3. Build the day-by-day plan with specific sessions, each with a target and an output.
4. Schedule spaced retrieval on the material I already know, so it doesn't decay while I fix the weak parts.
5. Assign at least two timed full attempts, with dates, and the review protocol for each.
6. Name my likely failure mode — running out of time, misreading questions, shallow answers — and the drill that fixes it.
7. The last 24 hours: what to do and what to stop doing.

Be realistic about what fits in the time. Don't plan 10-hour days.