Students generally take studying seriously when exams are just around the corner. For major board exams, the serious preparation often begins only a month or two before the test date.
This inevitably results in a frantic rush known as cramming—a desperate attempt to feed the memory through rapid repetition. Unfortunately, this usually leads to poor results. In the rush to absorb large quantities of information, important nuances and details are glossed over or lost entirely. When you are rushing, it is incredibly difficult to thoroughly process complex concepts and to integrate them in a meaningful, structured way. Repeating information over and over in a single marathon sitting is often a wasted effort; the learning benefits from such grueling sessions are usually forgotten just a few days later.
Space Out Your Learning Over Time
A more effective strategy is to distribute your exam preparation over multiple sessions.
This technique is known as spaced practice or distributed practice. By "spacing" learning activities out over time—for example, studying 1 to 2 hours every other day, or even just once a week, rather than enduring a single 12-hour cramming session—you will actually learn more information and retain it for much longer.
The "spacing effect" isn't just a theory. It has been documented and verified in more than 200 rigorous research studies, consistently resulting in better academic performance and superior long-term memory formation.
How Spaced Practice Works
In spaced practice, we create many "nano sessions." Each of these brief sessions is designed to focus on one specific concept, allowing the student to master that particular idea without feeling overwhelmed. It gives the brain time to rest and consolidate the information.
Crucially, spacing allows students to go back and refer to what they previously learned. Having multiple, shorter sessions allows you to "divide and conquer." You can focus on a manageable subset of materials during each sitting. Without the intense pressure to cover all the course content at once (as occurs when cramming), you can spend more time deeply processing and integrating important concepts and details from just a portion of the course.
Moreover, each subsequent session is a golden opportunity for you to go back and review information that you previously learned. By repeatedly revisiting course materials over multiple, spaced-out sessions, you will be able to more effectively encode that information into your long-term memory. This process naturally fills in any gaps in your knowledge and ensures you are fully equipped to use that information on the upcoming exam.
- Plan ahead: Create a "spaced" learning schedule weeks or months ahead of time, not days.
- Be consistent: Spend time preparing for the course at regular, periodic intervals. Treat these study blocks as non-negotiable appointments.
- Mix it up: Focus on both new materials and older materials during your sessions to keep the memory pathways strong.