Using spaced repetition to learn more effectively

With mock exams approaching for our Year 12 students, as well as other year groups completing key tests and examinations shortly after, the Curriculum Team decided that it would be beneficial to share some research on study and learning which may help our students. This is one particular technique which I share with my students, and I hope it is of use to any students and/or parents reading.

Esteemed academic and linguist Dr Paul Pimsleur (1927 – 1976) did a lot of research on learning – particularly related to learning languages. One of the main conclusions he drew from his research is that in order to remember something in the long-term, we need to revisit it again and again in order to maximise our chances of retaining that information. We call this “moving information from our short-term memory to our long-term memory”. Research has found the ideal spacing of learning repetitions to be as recommended as follows:

When you learn something new,

• Revise it again in one day
• Revise it again in one week
• Revise it again in one month

If we follow this method, it is suggested that we can retain as much as 90% of information learning. Without this method, we may only remember as much as 30% after six days.

Graph 1: Memory retention linked to repetition over time, from the RedTick “7 Steps to Better Study” booklet

Famous education guru Professor John Hattie makes reference to this technique in his Visible Learning research, claiming that spaced practice is far more effective for building learning that “mass practice”, which is to learn things in small blocks or units.

This research goes against the classic student technique of “cramming” the night before – sure, you may remember some of the information for your mock WACE exams or for the topic test, but it would be a safe bet that you aren’t going to remember much from that study by the time your next exam swings around. With mock exams for Year 12s roughly one month and one week away, perhaps now is a good time to start using spaced practice to embed those key facts and concepts into your brain that you tend to keep forgetting.

Adam Inder

Data Analysis & Curriculum Innovation Manager