Spaced Repetition
Spread it out over days and weeks
What the Research Says
Spaced repetition is the practice of reviewing material at gradually increasing intervals. Instead of cramming everything the night before, you revisit topics after 1 day, then 3 days, then 7 days, then 14 days. Each time you revisit, the memory gets stronger and lasts longer. For Science, where you need to retain hundreds of definitions, equations, and processes across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, spacing is the difference between short-term cramming and genuine understanding.
Evidence Base
| Study | Finding | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ebbinghaus (1885) | Without review, 70% of information is forgotten within 24 hours | Forgetting is rapid without spacing |
| Cepeda et al. (2006) | Spacing study sessions produced 10–30% better recall than massed practice | Consistent across all subjects |
| Dunlosky et al. (2013) | Distributed practice rated as HIGH utility — one of only two top-rated strategies | Strong evidence across hundreds of studies |
Step-by-Step Method
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1
Create a topic list — Write out every topic you need to revise for each paper (Biology Paper 1, Chemistry Paper 2, etc.). Use the specification checklist to make sure nothing is missed.
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2
Assign topics to days — Spread topics across your revision calendar. Don’t do all of Biology in one week — interleave Biology, Chemistry, and Physics topics each day.
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3
Use the 1-3-7-14 rule — After first learning a topic, review it after 1 day, then 3 days, then 7 days, then 14 days. Each review can be shorter than the last — a 5-minute retrieval quiz is enough for the later reviews.
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4
Mark confidence levels — After each review, rate the topic as Red (can’t remember), Amber (partial recall), or Green (solid). Red topics get reviewed sooner; green topics can be spaced further apart.
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5
Track with a revision timetable — Use a calendar, spreadsheet, or app (Anki is excellent for flashcards with built-in spacing). Colour-code by subject so you can see the balance at a glance.
When and How Often
Start spacing at least 8 weeks before the exam. The earlier you begin, the more review cycles you can fit in. Even 10 minutes a day on previously covered topics makes a huge difference.
| Day | New Topic | Review Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Week 1 | Cell structure (Bio) | — |
| Tue Week 1 | Atomic structure (Chem) | Cell structure (Day 1) |
| Wed Week 1 | Energy stores (Phys) | — |
| Thu Week 1 | Cell division (Bio) | Cell structure (Day 3), Atomic structure (Day 1) |
| Fri Week 1 | Bonding (Chem) | Energy stores (Day 1) |
| Mon Week 2 | Waves (Phys) | Cell structure (Day 7), Cell division (Day 3), Bonding (Day 1) |
| Fri Week 2 | Infection (Bio) | Cell structure (Day 14), Atomic structure (Day 7), Energy stores (Day 7) |
Notice: By Week 2, you are reviewing 3–4 old topics alongside each new one. This overlap is normal and keeps everything fresh.
Common Mistakes
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Cramming the night before — Massed practice feels productive but fades fast. Spaced practice feels harder in the moment but lasts much longer.
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Only revising one subject per day — Doing “all Biology on Monday” reduces the spacing effect. Mix subjects within each session.
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Skipping the hard topics — The topics you find hardest need more frequent review, not less. Use your RAG ratings to prioritise.