How A/B week timetables work and how to keep track of them
An A/B week timetable, also called an alternating or two-week timetable, switches between two different weekly schedules every other week: week 1 is week A, week 2 is week B, week 3 is week A again. Schools use it for labs and classes that can't run every week, and families see it with alternating activities. The most common mistake is simply forgetting which week it is.
How the rotation works
Pick one reference week as week A. From then on, every other week is week B. Classes that happen every week go in both, and only the alternating classes are marked A or B.
| Week | Rotation | Monday period 3 example |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (reference) | A | Science lab |
| Week 2 | B | Art |
| Week 3 | A | Science lab |
| Week 4 | B | Art |
As long as the reference week is right, the rotation takes care of itself. Breaks don't change the order unless your school resets the reference week.
How to tell whether this week is A or B
Count the full weeks since the start of the reference week. An even count (0, 2, 4…) means week A; an odd count (1, 3, 5…) means week B. Some schools reset the rotation at the start of a term, so check the term calendar once.
How to stop mixing up the weeks
Two paper timetables almost guarantee you'll look at the wrong one at least once.
- 1. Separate weekly classes from alternating ones
- 2. Write down one reference date for week A
- 3. Mark only the alternating classes as A or B
- 4. Make the current week visible where you look every day, such as your app's first screen or a widget
In Classtile
Turn on A/B weeks in Classtile's Settings and choose the reference week. When you add a class you can then set it to every week, week A or week B. The Today tab shows a badge for the current week, and today's list and the next class widget only show classes that belong to this week. In the Week tab, switch between A and B to see each week's timetable.
FAQ
- Can I set up a two-week timetable?
- Yes. Turn on A/B weeks and put alternating classes in week A or week B. Weekly classes only need to be entered once.
- How do I know if this week is week A?
- Count the weeks since the reference week: even means A, odd means B. Classtile does this for you and shows a badge on the Today tab.
- Does the A/B order change after a break?
- It depends on your school. If the rotation resets, just pick a new reference week in Settings.
- Does the widget follow A/B weeks?
- Yes. Classtile's next class widget uses the same A/B setting as the app.
Keep both weeks in one timetable
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