If you’ve ever crammed for an exam only to forget everything a week later, you’ve experienced the limitations of massed practice. There’s a better way: spaced repetition.
What is Spaced Repetition?
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that involves reviewing information at increasing intervals over time. Instead of studying something once intensively, you review it multiple times with growing gaps between sessions.
The Science
Research in cognitive psychology has consistently shown that spaced repetition is one of the most effective ways to move information from short-term to long-term memory.
The Forgetting Curve
In 1885, psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus discovered the “forgetting curve” - we forget approximately 50% of new information within an hour, and 70% within 24 hours.
But here’s the key insight: each time you successfully recall information, you slow down the forgetting curve.
The Spacing Effect
The spacing effect shows that we learn better when study sessions are spaced out rather than massed together. Your brain needs time to consolidate memories.
How Laera Study Uses Spaced Repetition
Our smart vocabulary builder implements spaced repetition automatically:
- Initial Learning: When you first encounter a word, we present it multiple times in different contexts
- First Review: After 1 day, we test your recall
- Adaptive Scheduling: Based on how well you remember, we schedule the next review
- Optimal Intervals: Words you struggle with appear more frequently; words you know well appear less often
Practical Tips
Start Early
Don’t wait until the night before an exam. Spaced repetition works best when you have time for multiple review sessions.
Use Active Recall
Don’t just re-read your notes. Test yourself. Laera Study’s flashcards and quizzes force you to actively retrieve information.
Be Consistent
Even 10-15 minutes of daily review is more effective than hours of cramming.
Trust the System
It might feel counterintuitive to review something you “already know,” but that’s exactly when spaced repetition is most powerful.
The Results
Students who use spaced repetition consistently report:
- Better long-term retention (remembering information months or years later)
- Less study time (more efficient learning)
- Reduced anxiety (confidence from knowing the material)
- Higher grades (obvious benefit!)
Try It Yourself
Ready to experience the power of spaced repetition? Join our waitlist to be among the first to try Laera Study’s smart learning system.
Further Reading:
- Ebbinghaus, H. (1885). Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology
- Cepeda, N. J., et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks
- Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger, H. L. (2008). The critical importance of retrieval for learning
Questions about spaced repetition? Email us at hello@laerastudy.com