Study & wellbeing · Grades 8–12

Planning · Quick reference

Reference sheet for Grades 8 to 12: writing SMART goals, weighted decision matrix and prioritizing by deadline. A SMART goal says exactly what you will do, how you will measure it and by when.

Make a worksheet

Rule and key idea

Writing SMART goals

A SMART goal says exactly what you will do, how you will measure it and by when.

Specific · Measurable · Achievable · Relevant · Time-bound

Which goal is more SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound)? → Attend coding club every Tuesday this term and finish one small app by June.

Weighted decision matrix

Score each option on each criterion, multiply by how much that criterion matters to you, then add.

weighted total = Σ (weight × score)

You compare two clubs with a weighted decision matrix. Weights: interest ×3, fits your schedule ×2. Club A scores 3 for interest and 2 for schedule; Club B scores 1 and 1 (higher is better). Which club has the higher weighted total? → Club A

Prioritizing by deadline

The “earliest deadline first” rule is a simple way to order tasks. Break big tasks into steps so they start early enough.

start the task with the earliest due date

You have three assignments: a group presentation due in 9 days, a science poster due in 4 days and a math problem set due in 3 days. Using the “earliest deadline first” rule, which should you start first? → a math problem set

Check yourself

Four practice questions on this topic. Try each one before you open the answer.

You compare two clubs with a weighted decision matrix. Weights: interest ×4, fits your schedule ×4. Club A scores 4 for interest and 1 for schedule; Club B scores 4 and 5 (higher is better). What is Club A’s weighted total?
Show the answer
20 A: 4 × 4 + 4 × 1 = 20; B: 4 × 4 + 4 × 5 = 36
You compare two clubs with a weighted decision matrix. Weights: interest ×3, fits your schedule ×4. Club A scores 2 for interest and 4 for schedule; Club B scores 4 and 2 (higher is better). Which club has the higher weighted total?
- Club A
- Club B
Show the answer
Club A A: 3 × 2 + 4 × 4 = 22; B: 3 × 4 + 4 × 2 = 20
You compare two clubs with a weighted decision matrix. Weights: interest ×4, fits your schedule ×2. Club A scores 3 for interest and 2 for schedule; Club B scores 2 and 5 (higher is better). Which club has the higher weighted total?
- Club A
- Club B
Show the answer
Club B A: 4 × 3 + 2 × 2 = 16; B: 4 × 2 + 2 × 5 = 18
You compare two clubs with a weighted decision matrix. Weights: interest ×3, fits your schedule ×1. Club A scores 1 for interest and 1 for schedule; Club B scores 2 and 4 (higher is better). Which club has the higher weighted total?
- Club B
- Club A
Show the answer
Club B A: 3 × 1 + 1 × 1 = 4; B: 3 × 2 + 1 × 4 = 10