How to Use Spaced Repetition to Ace Your Exams?

Have you ever spent hours cramming for an exam, only to find that you have forgotten most of the information a few days later? It is a very common and frustrating problem. The reason for it is that cramming is a very bad way to remember things for a long time. When you cram, you are only putting information into your short-term memory, where it will stay for only a short time before it is gone forever.

But what if there was a way to study that helps you to remember information for a very long time? There is. It is a powerful study technique called Spaced Repetition. Spaced Repetition is a method where you review information at increasing time intervals. It is a way to fight what scientists call the “forgetting curve,” and it is a secret that many of the best students use to ace their exams. In this article, we will take a deep dive into what Spaced Repetition is, why it works, and a simple, step-by-step guide on how you can use it to get better grades.

What Is Spaced Repetition? The Secret to Long-Term Memory

Spaced Repetition is a study technique where you review information at increasing time intervals. The idea is to review the information just before you are about to forget it. This might sound strange, but it is the best time to review. When you review information just before you are about to forget it, you are strengthening the connection to it in your brain.

Think of your memory like a path in a field. When you walk on the path for the first time, the path is very faint. But if you walk on the path over and over again, the path becomes a clear and well-worn path. The same is true for your memory. Each time you review a piece of information, you are making the path to it in your brain a little bit stronger. Spaced Repetition is a way to make sure that you are walking on the path at the right time, so that the path becomes a clear and well-worn path in your long-term memory.

The Science Behind It: How Our Brains Forget

In the 19th century, a scientist named Hermann Ebbinghaus did a famous study on memory. He found that our memory of new information fades over time. He called this the “Forgetting Curve.” The forgetting curve shows that we forget a huge amount of new information in the first few hours after we learn it.

The forgetting curve shows us that if we do not review the information, it will be gone forever. But Ebbinghaus also found that if we review the information, the forgetting curve becomes less steep. This means that we don’t forget the information as fast. Spaced Repetition is a way to use this information to our advantage. The idea is to review the information at the perfect time, so that we don’t forget it, but we also don’t waste our time reviewing it when we already remember it.

Step 1: The First Review (The First and Most Important Step)

The first step in the Spaced Repetition method is to review the new information right after you learn it. After you finish a class or a study session, you should take a few minutes to review your notes. This will help you to remember the information while it is still fresh in your mind.

You can do this by:

• Reading your notes.
• Summarizing the main ideas in your own words.
• Creating flashcards.

The first review is the most important one. It is a way to make sure that the information gets into your short-term memory, which is the first step to getting it into your long-term memory.

Step 2: The Next Review (A Few Days Later)

After your first review, you should wait a few days before you review the information again. The goal is to wait just before you are about to forget it. For most people, this is about two or three days after the first review.

You can use this review to see if you still remember the information. If you do, you can move on to the next step. If you don’t, you should go back and study the information again. This is a very important part of the process, as it helps you to find out what you know and what you don’t know.

Step 3: The Third Review (A Week Later)

After your second review, you should wait for a longer period of time before you review the information again. The goal is to wait for about a week. By this time, the information should be in your long-term memory, and you should be able to remember it much more easily.

You can use this review to make sure that the information is still in your long-term memory. If you do, you can move on to the next step. If you don’t, you should go back and study the information again.

The Full System: The Forgetting Curve and Review Schedule

The full system of Spaced Repetition is a bit more complex. The idea is to review the information at increasing time intervals. Here is a simple review schedule that you can use:

• Day 1: Review the information right after you learn it.
• Day 3: Review the information again.
• Day 7: Review the information again.
• Day 14: Review the information again.
• Day 30: Review the information again.

You can use this schedule as a guide, and you can change the times based on how well you remember the information. If you remember a topic very well, you can wait for a longer period of time. If you are struggling with a topic, you should review it more often. The goal is to make sure that you are reviewing the information at the perfect time.

Tools for Spaced Repetition: Making it Easy

Using a full Spaced Repetition schedule can be hard to manage on your own. But there are a lot of tools that can help you.

• Flashcards: You can use flashcards as a simple and effective tool. You can put the cards into different piles based on how well you remember the information. You can review the cards in the “I don’t know” pile more often than the cards in the “I know” pile.
• Apps: There are a lot of apps and websites that are designed for Spaced Repetition. Apps like Anki and Quizlet use an algorithm to figure out the best time for you to review a piece of information. They will show you a card when you are about to forget it. This is a great way to use Spaced Repetition without having to manage the schedule on your own.

Spaced Repetition vs. Cramming: A Better Way to Study

Many students cram for an exam. They read a book over and over again the night before an exam. This might help you to remember the information for a short time, but it is not a good way to learn.

Cramming is a very stressful and ineffective way to study. It can lead to a lot of anxiety and a lot of forgetfulness. Spaced Repetition is a much better way to study. It is a way to learn that is less stressful, more effective, and that helps you to remember information for a very long time.

Spaced Repetition and Your Exams: A Game-Changer

Spaced Repetition can be a game-changer for your exams. It can help you to:

• Reduce Stress: When you use Spaced Repetition, you don’t have to cram for an exam. You will be reviewing the information over a long period of time, which will help you to feel more confident and less stressed.
• Remember More: Spaced Repetition is a great way to remember a huge amount of information. You will be able to remember all the key terms, the main ideas, and the important facts for your exam.
• Improve Your Grades: A student who uses Spaced Repetition is a student who is more likely to get a better grade on their exam. They will have a better memory, a better understanding of the material, and they will be more confident.

Conclusion

Spaced Repetition is one of the most powerful study techniques. It is a way to fight the “forgetting curve” and to move information from your short-term memory into your long-term memory. By using flashcards and apps, you can use Spaced Repetition to get better results. Spaced Repetition is a much better way to study than cramming. It is a way to learn that is less stressful, more effective, and that helps you to remember information for a very long time. With Spaced Repetition, you can beat the forgetting curve and ace your exams.