"Spaced Repetition: The Study Method That Beats Cramming"
Spaced repetition is the single highest-leverage study method for vocabulary. It’s not a trick - it’s timing your reviews to the exact moment you’re about to forget, so memories move from short-term to long-term with minimal effort.
Why cramming fails
Cramming packs info in, but most of it leaks out within days. You feel prepared, then blank. Spaced repetition inverts this: you review a word just before you’d forget it, which is when the brain strengthens it most.
How it works
- You learn a word.
- The system schedules its next review - soon at first (1 day), then further apart (3 days, 7, 21…).
- If you remember, the gap grows. If you forget, it resets shorter.
- Over time, words need review only every few months.
Tools
- Anki - the free, customizable gold standard (desktop + app).
- Babbel / Busuu review managers - built-in, automatic.
- Memrise - spaced repetition with native-speaker video.
How to set up a routine
- Daily, not marathon. 10-15 minutes beats one hourly session weekly.
- Make your own cards. Typing a word + a sentence you wrote beats downloading a deck - you remember what you create.
- Cap new cards. 10-15 new words/day keeps reviews manageable.
- Pair with input. Use words you met in a lesson or show, not random lists.
FAQ
Do I need Anki, or is an app enough? Apps with built-in review (Babbel, Memrise) are enough for most. Use Anki if you want full control and unlimited free decks.
How long until words stick? Typically 4-6 well-timed reviews over a few weeks moves a word to long-term memory.
Verdict
Spaced repetition is the difference between “I studied that” and “I know that.” Add it on top of any app, even 10 minutes a day, and your vocabulary will compound.