Spaced repetition: build a study schedule

Start from what you have to be able to do

List the chapters and, for each one, an observable task: define a term, solve a type of problem, comment on a document. “Review math” is too vague to know whether your session is over. “Solve an equation and check the solution” gives you a concrete goal.

Before filling in the schedule, try a few questions without your notes. Spot the chapters you forgot and the ones you recognize without being able to explain them. Plan time to understand the latter, then to go back over them. A schedule made only of tests does not fix a misunderstanding.

Example of a seven-day schedule

Suppose you have one week and several short slots. This model is neither a universal rhythm nor a guarantee of memorization. Shorten the interval if a notion stays difficult and leave more room for the ones you recall accurately.

• Day 1: read the chapter, understand the examples and prepare a few questions.
• Day 2: answer without the course, then correct the mistakes and go back over their causes.
• Day 3: work on another chapter or an exercise that uses the same method.
• Day 4: go back over the questions from the first chapter in a different order.
• Day 5: do an exercise in the format expected on the test.
• Day 6: review the remaining difficulties and explain the steps without your notes.
• Day 7: check the important points with a short session suited to how tired you are.

Decide what to review based on your answers

After a card, note whether you found the answer on your own, after a hint or only by reading it. After a quiz, check whether you could justify your choice. These observations help you divide up the work; they are not a complete measure of how well you have mastered the material.

A repeated mistake sometimes calls for changing the question. If a flashcard contains three ideas, split them. If you mix up two formulas, compare their conditions of use. If you know the rule but fail the exercise, work on the steps of the reasoning.

Keep a realistic schedule with Fichea

Fichea flashcards let you review the concepts from your sheets. Use the app's review indicators and your answers to decide what comes next, depending on your plan's features. For your exam calendar, you can also note the slots in your usual calendar app: this guide does not describe an automatic calendar feature.

The work presented by The Learning Scientists distinguishes spaced practice from active recall. The schedule suggested here is one concrete way to combine them, not a protocol tested on Fichea users. No number of days guarantees a grade: the content studied, the exercises and the quality of the corrections also matter.