We’ve all been there before: late night study sessions with multiple cups of coffee and a hefty textbook. Cramming for a test the night before may seem like a good idea at first, but it is actually an extremely ineffective way to study. When given a vast quantity of information to memorize over a short period of time, the most effective studying tactic is spaced repetition.
Written by Freda Pan
What is Spaced Repetition?
Spaced repetition is a method of memorization where an individual reviews a set of information, usually in the form of queue cards, after specified time intervals. The idea is that individuals will easily forget specific facts or information if it is only reviewed once or at irregular intervals. The more frequently you encounter or review a piece of information, the much easier you will be able to recall it.
How It Works:
Review notes
The first step is to review the information you must memorize. You can do this by writing down the information on queue cards. Within the first few hours of memorization, you should read the facts, then without use of the queue cards, recall the information aloud.
Review and repeat
Now, you can set time intervals when you should review this fact set. The most effective would be 24 hours intervals for several days. After this set review period, the time intervals between study sessions should gradually increase.
Apps to use:
Some might find queue cards a hassle and waste of paper; however, there are several useful apps on the market that help with spaced repetition.
Anki
By far the most popular app on the market, Anki provides you with a space to store all your queue cards electronically. It also gives you a customizable schedule to memorize. Based on your ability to recall the information, the app will either show you certain cards more or less often.
Brainscape
Brainscape is another app that allows you to make flashcards and memorize information. However, Brainscape will also give you a Mastery rating based on how easily you can recall certain information.
Quizlet
Quizlet also lets you create queue cards. It also lets you organize them by decks to memorize information. It is a very simple flashcard app that is easy to use. It is most popular among individuals learning vocabulary for languages.
Good luck and happy studying!
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