Spaced revision: study it again just before you forget.
Spaced repetition means coming back to something at growing gaps. A one-minute recall on the right day does more for your memory than rereading a chapter the night before. You can follow this schedule on paper or use an app.
Why it works
Memory fades fast at first, then more slowly. Each time you pull something back from memory, it lasts longer than it did before. So the gaps can grow each time. Research by Cepeda and colleagues, published in Psychological Science in 2008, found that the best gap depends on how long you need to remember something: the further away your exam, the longer the gaps can be.
The "pull it back" part matters. Answering a question works far better than reading your notes again, because reading feels familiar even when you couldn't answer without the page.
A simple schedule to start with
| Review | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 day later | Catches the steepest forgetting |
| 2nd | 7 days later | Holds it through the week |
| 3rd | 16 days later | Moves it past the next few chapters |
| 4th | 35 days later | Keeps it going for a longer stretch |
After that, keep stretching the gap for as long as you keep getting it right.
The rules that make it work
- If you get it right, move on to the next gap.
- If you miss it, start again from 1 day.
- If you keep missing the same thing, stop testing yourself and go back and learn it again. That's no longer a memory problem.
- As your exam gets close, shorten the gaps.
Doing it on paper
Write a question on one side of a card and the answer on the other. Keep six boxes labelled with the gaps above and write the next review date on each card. It works, though it gets hard to manage across four subjects and two years.
Doing it on Anva
Anva handles the scheduling for you across Class 11 and Class 12, so your home screen just tells you what's fading today, and it adjusts to your exam date. See how it fits JEE, NEET and CBSE preparation.
Common questions
What's the difference between spaced repetition and active recall?
Spaced repetition is when you review. Active recall is how: answering from memory instead of rereading. They work best together, and that's what a quick question on the right day does.
How many concepts should I revise a day?
Few enough that you'll do it every day. A short session you never skip beats a long one you avoid.
Is it too late to start before my exam?
No. With less time, the gaps just get shorter. Even a few weeks of spaced practice is better than one last-minute reread.
Try it on your weakest chapter.
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