What the Research Says

For RS, retrieval practice means testing yourself on beliefs, teachings, key quotes, and ethical arguments without looking at your notes. This builds exam-ready recall. Roediger & Karpicke (2006) found students who practised retrieval remembered 80% after one week versus 36% for re-readers.

Step-by-Step Method

1. 1
   Read one topic — E.g. Christian beliefs about the Trinity or Islamic practices.
2. 2
   Close notes — The struggle to remember is the point.
3. 3
   Brain dump — Write beliefs, teachings, quotes, and key vocabulary.
4. 4
   Check gaps — Highlight what you missed.
5. 5
   Repeat — Focus on gaps next session.

When and How Often

18 minutes per cycle.

Common Mistakes

• ❌
  Re-reading — Close the book and test yourself.
• ❌
  Only testing easy topics — Focus on what you find hardest.
• ❌
  Not reviewing gaps — Always return to missed content.