What is spaced repetition? Also called spaced practice, this technique spaces out your study sessions over increasing intervals, such as 13-7-10 and 14 days. That means you’ll start with next-day reviewing and increase the days between each session until you review material every 14 days.

With a well-trained memory, you won’t find yourself scrambling for terminology or facts during critical exams or on the job. 

Does Spaced Repetition Work?

Yes, spaced repetition works. The technique has a solid history of evidence-based success dating back to the late 19th century. In fact, the first person to describe it, Hermann Ebbinghaus, used spaced repetition on himself to see if he could improve recall on a study list.  

When you learn new information, you’re more likely to forget most details shortly after learning — unless something stops them from fading. That’s where spaced practice comes in. It slows memory loss through repeated action, so you have better recall when it counts. Like on your exam!

Pros of Spaced Repetition

By using this studying technique, you’ll be able to shorten your study time. Less effort to recall facts means less time is needed for studying. More information can make its way to your long-term memory, where it’s easier to retrieve. 

Spaced repetition is also adaptable, suiting everything from paper or digital flashcards to online quizzes and screen-based simulations. It also works no matter what subject you’re studying. That means you can use it to recall everything from dental tool functions to medication nomenclature to computer hardware and programming languages. 

Cons of Spaced Repetition

Although there are many benefits, the method can have a few cons. You might find it becomes monotonous if you don’t vary the approach, which is why interactive, immersive learning paired with repetition can bring the most success. You’ll remain fully engaged with the material and won’t lose interest. 

It’s also not a quick process. Spaced repetition means coming back to the material over time. While each interval gets longer, you have to stick with it to boost your recall.

How to Do Spaced Repetition 

Here are some options if you’re ready to boost knowledge retention and try spaced practice.

• Write out flashcards of lesson material: With flashcards, you put a question or term on one side and the answer on the other. Flashcards you get right go in one pile, and ones you get wrong go in another. Make note of the incorrect cards, so you can review them first during your next session. 
• Use repetition software: Top apps like Anki, RemNote, Quizlet and Brainscape let you create flashcards for studying. Then, the app takes over and tests you on different intervals. Rate your recall, and the software uses the feedback to tailor your learning. 
• Create your own active recall: Following the spaced repetition interval, prompt yourself with a topic. Then write a summary of however much information you can remember. It might be asking a question and immediately writing the answer or defining key terms or techniques. 

Achieve Your Goals With MedCerts

You’re making great progress in your training. Combine spaced repetition studying with built-in interactive eLearning — like game-based learning and screen-based simulations — to ace your MedCerts program and jumpstart your career.