What is spaced repetition?
Updated 2026-06-20
Spaced repetition is a study method where you review material at increasing intervals — a day, then a few days, then a week, then a month. Each well-timed review strengthens the memory and pushes the next review further out, so you remember more while studying less.
The forgetting curve
Memory fades predictably: learn something today and without review you'll have lost much of it within days. Each time you successfully recall it, the curve flattens — the memory decays more slowly. Spaced repetition exploits this by scheduling reviews just as the curve dips, when recalling does the most good.
Why spacing beats cramming
- Cramming loads short-term memory; it fades fast once the test is over.
- Spacing forces effortful recall after partial forgetting, which builds durable memory.
- Because intervals grow, the total number of reviews stays small even for thousands of cards.
How to actually do it
- Turn what you're learning into question-and-answer cards (one idea per card).
- Review each card when it's due — not earlier, not much later.
- Be honest when you rate recall; the schedule is only as good as your feedback.
- Let an algorithm handle the timing so you can focus on the material.
Where the algorithm comes in
Picking intervals by hand is tedious and imprecise. Modern tools use a scheduler — Recense uses FSRS — to predict each card's forgetting point and place the review there automatically.
Frequently asked
- Does spaced repetition really work?
- Yes — the spacing effect is one of the most robust findings in memory research. Reviewing at growing intervals produces stronger long-term retention than the same time spent cramming.
- How is spaced repetition different from just reviewing?
- It's about timing. Instead of re-reading on a fixed schedule, you recall each item right as you're about to forget it, which strengthens memory most efficiently.
- What's the best spaced-repetition app?
- The best one is the one you'll open daily. Recense pairs FSRS scheduling with a clean interface and Anki import, and the core is free.
Try spaced repetition today
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