Time management and academic achievement among medical students: a cross-sectional study

Background Time management involves using time efficiently to complete specific tasks and the grade point average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents students’ average academic performance over a specific period. Both the effective and wise use of time are key factors influencing the productivity and success of medical students. To the best of our knowledge, no studies in Iraq have addressed this topic. Objectives This study aims to examine the impact of time management on the academic GPA performance of students at Al-Nahrain College of Medicine and to explore their time management practices. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to May 2025 with a total of 382 male and female students. Data was collected from participants following a direct interview using a specially designed questionnaire and the GPAs for the students were extracted. Results Of the 382 participants, 50.3% were female. Most participants (45.8%) had a GPA between 2.00 and 3.00. There was no significant association between student perception and GPA. The results showed a significant association between GPA and a student’s preference for managing their time daily (p value 0.01). There was a significant association between GPA and laziness, study mood when sleep pattern is insufficient (p value 0.01). Conclusions Daily time management and adequate sleep were significantly associated with higher GPAs, while students’ perceptions showed no association with academic achievement. Focused students’ education and comprehensive strategies to enhance effective time management skills among them are recommended.