If you’ve got multiple exams coming up and you’re thinking “How am I going to remember all this information?!”, use the power of spaced repetition to get your revision into your long-term memory and improve recall. Find out how to use the 2357 method to plan your study sessions with increasing regularity as you get closer to your exam.
What is spaced repetition?
Spaced repetition is a scientifically proven method that involves reviewing information at closer intervals, boosting your memory, and making it less likely you’ll forget everything. Studies show it can significantly improve learning and reduce the time spent studying. In this article, we’ll explain how you can use spaced repetition, and the 2357 method, to plan your revision sessions and some of the simple methods you can use.
Understanding how we forget
Imagine your brain as a library. You may have stored information you’ve learned on a shelf, but if you don’t have a good catalogue or filing system it’ll be pretty hard to find it again. Spaced repetition acts like a catalogue, training your brain to find the information when you need it.
If you think of your brain as a muscle, making it work to find a piece of information is training that muscle to get stronger and find the information more easily in the future. This is also called active recall.
Spaced repetition is based on the forgetting curve, which shows how we lose the ability to access information in our memory over time. By studying a topic at strategic intervals you’ll end up remembering more. This method of spacing out shorter study sessions has been proven to be more effective than doing one big session and trying to cram everything in.
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Using spaced repetitions, or the 2 3 5 7 method, to plan your revision sessions
This simple yet effective method provides a clear schedule for spaced repetition ahead of exams:
1. Start from the date of your exam and plan a revision session the day before
2. Two days before your last session plan another one
3. Then count three days back from that and plan another session
4. Count five days back and plan a session there
5. Then count seven days back and plan your first study session
Here’s an example timetable showing three exam dates and the revision sessions for them planned in.
This shows how this method can be great for planning your revision as little as 18 days away from your exams.
Adapting to your needs
This is just a framework! Adjust the intervals based on your learning pace and the difficulty of the material. A good way to do this is to use shorter intervals for complex topics or things you don’t know as well, and longer intervals for things you already know or are a bit easier to digest.
Using this method works well as you start to get closer to the exams, but you can use it even better if you start doing it after the first time you cover the material. A good tip would be to create flashcards based on what you’ve learned after a class, then use the Leitner system to review them at regular intervals.
How to use spaced repetition for revision
Here are some revision techniques you can use really effectively with spaced repetition:
Flashcards
Create digital or physical flashcards with key concepts on one side and answers on the other. Review them at designated intervals.
Active recall
Test yourself without referring to notes. Explain concepts aloud or write them down from memory, the blurting method is a good way to do this.
Apps and websites
Try out spaced repetition apps like Anki or Quizlet, which automate scheduling and track your progress.
What are the benefits of spaced repetition?
- Reduced Cramming: ditch the last-minute panic and enjoy a calmer, more consistent study routine.
- Improved Long-term memory: retain information effectively, boosting your exam performance and overall knowledge.
- Enhanced efficiency: spend less time studying and achieve better results with smarter revision strategies.
Find a revision style that works for you
Remember, the best revision method is the one you enjoy and stick to so try out different techniques to discover how you learn best. You can harness the power of spaced repetition to upgrade your revision sessions however you like to study.
