Spaced Repetition for Exam Preparation: A Simple Schedule

You forget most of what you read unless you meet it again at the right moments. Spaced repetition schedules those meetings so that each one is as useful as possible.

The basic idea

Review material soon after learning it, then again after a longer gap, then a longer gap again. Each successful recall makes the memory last longer, so the intervals can widen.

A simple schedule

• Review the same day you learn something (a quick recap)
• Review again after one day
• Review after one week
• Review after one month

Using a notebook

Write each item you want to remember, such as a formula, a fact or a mistake from a mock test, with the date. Mark it each time you review. If you got it wrong, put it back to the start of the schedule.

Use quizzes, not rereading

Trying to recall an answer strengthens memory far more than looking at it again. Short quizzes work well, such as static GK quizzes or vocabulary sets.

Feed it with mock mistakes

The best items for your schedule are the questions you got wrong. Collect them with an error log and revisit them at the intervals above. For making compact notes, see short notes for revision.