What the Research Says

Your brain forgets information in a predictable curve — rapidly at first, then more slowly. Spaced repetition fights this by scheduling reviews at increasing intervals: 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, 14 days. Each review resets the forgetting curve, making the memory more durable.

Evidence Base

Study	Finding	Impact
Ebbinghaus (1885)	Without review, 70% of new information is forgotten within 24 hours	Immediate review is critical
Cepeda et al. (2006)	Spaced practice produced 10–30% better retention than massed practice	Shorter sessions over longer periods outperform cramming

How to Use It for English Literature

Build a Revision Calendar

Map your texts across the weeks before your exam. Each text should appear multiple times, with increasing gaps between sessions.

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
1	Shakespeare (new)	Post-1914 (new)	Shakespeare (review 1)
2	19th-Century (new)	Post-1914 (review 1)	Poetry (new)
3	Shakespeare (review 2)	19th-Century (review 1)	Post-1914 (review 2)

Use the StudyVault Flashcard System

The Leitner box system on the Revise page automatically spaces your flashcard reviews. Cards you get wrong come back sooner; cards you know well appear less often. Let the algorithm do the scheduling.

Interleave Your Texts

Don’t study the same text for a whole evening. Alternate: 20 minutes on Macbeth, then 20 minutes on your 19th-century novel, then 20 minutes on poetry. This forces your brain to retrieve and switch, which strengthens each memory.

Common Pitfalls

• Cramming feels more productive: It isn’t. Cramming gives short-term confidence but poor long-term retention.
• Don’t confuse familiarity with knowledge: Re-reading your notes makes them feel familiar, but familiarity is not the same as being able to recall them under exam pressure.
• Start early: Spaced repetition only works if you have time to space. Begin at least 6 weeks before your exam.