What you’ll learn
- Map the syllabus by testable topic
- Use practice questions to rate difficulty
- Add fewer new topics near the exam
- Protect a final mixed-recall pass
Convert the syllabus into topics
Create one subject for the exam and groups that mirror its modules. Break each module into testable concepts—not pages or lecture numbers. This makes the review calendar show exactly what needs work.
Use active recall as the session
Answer closed-book questions, write a short explanation from memory, or solve a representative problem. Then compare with the source. Rate based on the first attempt, because rereading can create a misleading feeling of fluency.
Run a two-phase plan
During the learning phase, add new topics and let Smart Algorithm adapt the queue. During the consolidation phase, stop expanding the syllabus, work through overdue weak topics, and mix material from different modules. If the deadline is very close, use an exam preset or custom intervals so the final reviews fit the remaining days.
Your daily exam dashboard
- Open Review and complete due Hard topics first
- Log the session immediately
- Use the calendar to spot crowded review days
- Move optional new material before sacrificing core reviews
- Check progress by topic, not only by streak
Make a review plan for your own topics
Put the method into practice with our free spaced repetition schedule calculator. Enter your exam date and topics to get a daily review plan you can download to your calendar.
Research behind the method
Spacing and retrieval are well-studied learning principles, but no app or schedule guarantees a particular academic result. Use the research as a foundation, then adapt the workload to your material, deadline, and feedback.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start spaced repetition before an exam?
Start as soon as topics are taught. Even two or three separated reviews are more useful than saving all repetition for the final days.
Can spaced repetition replace practice exams?
No. Practice exams test integration, timing, and exam conditions. Use them as retrieval sessions and use their results to rate the related topics.