Revision
A Simple Revision Strategy That Makes Learning Stick
Use planned recall and spaced reviews to remember more without rereading the same notes endlessly.
8 min read
Revision works best when it asks your brain to retrieve information. A small number of well-timed recall sessions usually beats repeated passive reading.
Recall before you review
Close your notes and write what you remember first. The gaps you notice tell you exactly where to spend the next few minutes.
- Write a one-page memory dump
- Answer practice questions without help
- Explain the idea aloud in simple language
Space the repetitions
Revisit a topic after one day, one week, and then a few weeks. Adjust the interval: weak topics return sooner, while strong topics can wait longer.
Track the next review date
Every completed topic should have a next revision date. Keeping that date visible removes the need to remember what is due.