OKR Template for Students: One Objective, 3 Key Results

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a way to write one goal and the few measurable results that show you got there. Students use them for exams, a thesis or a job search, where "do well" is too vague to act on. Below is a template you can copy, three filled examples, and a ten-minute weekly check-in.

We make GoalTracker, a free browser tracker, so the tools linked here are ours. The template works on paper or in any notes app.

The template

Copy this block and fill it in. Keep it to one objective per term.

Objective: (one sentence, what you want, no numbers)
Deadline: (date)

KR1: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __
KR2: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __
KR3: (a number you can check) - start: __  target: __

Not doing this term: (one thing you are leaving out on purpose)

The objective says where you are going. Each key result is a number, so at the end you can say yes or no. If you cannot measure it, rewrite it until you can.

Three filled examples

1. Exam: pass Organic Chemistry with a B or better

• KR1: Complete 8 of 10 past papers under timed conditions by 1 December (start: 0).
• KR2: Score at least 70% on the last 3 past papers (start: 52%).
• KR3: Attend 5 of 6 tutorial sessions (start: 2 of 6).

2. Thesis: finish a full first draft

• KR1: Write 12,000 words of 15,000 by 15 January (start: 3,000).
• KR2: Send each chapter to the supervisor within a week of finishing it (3 chapters).
• KR3: Read and note 20 sources (start: 8).

3. Internship search: get 3 interviews

• KR1: Send 25 tailored applications by 30 November (start: 4).
• KR2: Ask 5 people for a 15-minute chat about their work (start: 0).
• KR3: Have the CV reviewed by 2 people and revised once (start: 0).

Keep key results about your own actions and outputs where you can. "Get 3 interviews" depends on others; "send 25 applications" does not.

Scoring from 0 to 1, simply

At the end of the term, give each key result a score: progress made divided by progress planned. Eight of 10 past papers done is 0.8. Average the three for the objective.

Do not treat 1.0 as the aim every time. If you always score 1.0, the targets were too easy. Scores around 0.6 to 0.8 on a stretching target are normal and fine. A score is information for next term, not a grade.

A weekly check-in in 10 minutes

Once a week, at the same time:

1. Update the current number for each key result.
2. Mark each one on track, behind or done.
3. For anything behind, write one action for the coming week with a day on it.
4. Cross out any key result that no longer makes sense and say why.

The weekly review template has questions you can reuse.

Where to keep it

Paper on the desk works if you look at it daily. If you want it with your other goals, the free OKR template page lets you fill this in online, and the printable PDF is there if you prefer paper. You can also put each key result in the goal tracker as a goal with steps.

No account is needed. Goals you track in GoalTracker are stored in your browser, so they do not sync between devices, and clearing site data removes them unless you saved a backup file first.

For adult life-area examples, see personal OKR examples. For ideas outside OKRs, see student goals examples.