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Guides to remembering what you learn
Plain-English guides to spaced repetition and how to actually remember what you study — the science, the methods, and how to apply them.
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Spaced repetition: the complete guide
What spaced repetition is, the science behind why it works, the main algorithms, and how to actually use it without it becoming a second job. A plain-English guide from someone who built a tool around it.
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Spaced repetition without the burnout
Most people quit spaced repetition because of the review backlog, not the method. Here is why the pile-up happens and how a daily limit keeps the habit alive.
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Spaced repetition for language learning
Vocabulary is the textbook case for spaced repetition. Here is how I used it to learn English, what to put on a card, and the review rhythm that actually held.
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Active recall and spaced repetition: the two-pillar study method
Active recall and spaced repetition are the two techniques learning science backs most strongly. Here is what each does, why they beat rereading, and how they work together.
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The forgetting curve, explained
Why you forget most of what you learn within days, what Ebbinghaus actually measured, and how spaced reviews flatten the curve. A plain-English primer.
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The Leitner system: spaced repetition on paper
The box method that started it all. How the Leitner system works, why it's still a great way to learn the concept, and where it runs out of road.
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The SM-2 algorithm in plain English
SM-2 is the scheduling algorithm behind SuperMemo and Anki's default. Here is how its ease factor and growing intervals work, without the math.
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FSRS, the modern spaced-repetition algorithm
FSRS is the open-source, machine-learning scheduler now built into Anki. Here is what it models, how it beats SM-2, and what it means for your reviews.
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Interleaving vs blocked practice
Studying one topic at a time feels efficient and isn't. Here is what interleaving is, why mixing topics improves retention, and how it pairs with spaced repetition.
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