What Is Spaced Repetition? The Science-Backed Study Hack
Quick Answer
Spaced repetition is a learning technique where you review material at systematically increasing intervals. Instead of studying the same thing every day (which is inefficient) or cramming all at once (which fails long-term), you review information just as you are about to forget it. This forces your brain to strengthen the memory trace.
How Spaced Repetition Works
Imagine your brain is a forest. Creating a memory is like walking through the woods—you create a path. If you don't walk that path again, the undergrowth returns and the path disappears. If you walk it every single hour, you're just stomping on dirt that's already flat.
Spaced repetition is walking that path right before it gets overgrown. First, you revisit it after a day. Then after 3 days. Then a week. Then a month. Each walk keeps the path clear for longer, with less total effort.
The Science Behind Spaced Repetition
This isn't a new fad. It dates back to 1885 and German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus. He discovered the Forgetting Curve, which shows how exponentially fast we lose information.
Research shows that active recall (testing yourself) combined with spaced repetition is the most powerful way to learn.Read more about Active Recall here.
Spaced Repetition vs. Cramming
Cramming works for passing a test tomorrow. It fails for remembering anything next month.
| Feature | Spaced Repetition | Cramming (Massed Practice) |
|---|---|---|
| Retention Rate (1 month) | High (~80-90%) | Low (~10-20%) |
| Time Efficiency | High (Study less total hours) | Low (Study more hours in one go) |
| Stress Level | Low (Consistent habit) | High (Panic mode) |
How to Use Spaced Repetition in Your Study Routine
You can do this manually with a "Leitner Box" (physical flashcards), but it's tedious to manage the schedule. The best way is to use an app that handles the math for you.
This is where SpaceRep shines. We don't just calculate the intervals; we put them in your Google Calendar.
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