Did you know that skimming your notes and binge-reading textbooks isn’t the best strategy for exam preparation? Instead, there’s a foolproof way to boost your memory and understanding: by practicing active recall.
At Noji, we’re passionate about finding the best study techniques backed by the latest research. And here’s a gem! The active recall study method activates the “testing effect” helping your brain to move information from short-term to long-term memory. It sounds like alchemy but it works like a charm.
Does it mean the dilemma of exam preparation can be solved and studying can finally get mindful? Time to forget the eternal beef between procrastination and compulsive cramming!
Read through the ultimate guide below and select a few actionable steps to start using active recall in your studies. Plus, see how you can benefit from the concept of active recall combined with other study techniques such as flashcards and spaced repetition.
Understanding Memory
We remember certain things because our brain prioritizes information that feels important, emotional, or new. However, if we don’t actively engage with that information, the forgetting curve shows that we quickly lose it over time:
The “learning pyramid,” also known as the “cone of learning,” highlights a key insight from the National Training Laboratory: students remember just 10% of what they read in textbooks but retain nearly 90% of what they teach others. This model shows that some study methods are far more effective than others. By using diverse learning techniques, you can achieve deeper understanding and better long-term retention.
Active recall is a method that guarantees high retention, allowing you to approach your study sessions strategically and stress-free (thanks to the power of neuroscience!).
What Is Active Recall?
Active recall is like a mental workout for your memory. Instead of simply reading textbooks or passively reviewing notes, this method involves actively trying to recall information before checking the answer.
Adopting such a study habit challenges your brain to dig up what it knows and reinforce those memories. And the best part? You can train and enhance this powerful skill with practice! There’s relatively fresh research (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006) that shows that the active recall method helps to build long-term memory, which makes studying much more meaningful and effective!
Scientists (Kornell et al., 2009) have also proven that even if you can’t recall the information perfectly, the effort of trying to retrieve it still boosts your chances of retaining the knowledge.
How to Do Active Recall?
Flashcards
Create flashcards with questions on one side and answers on the other. Regularly review these cards and quiz yourself to reinforce your memory. This method helps with quick recall and can be easily customized to focus on specific topics.
Whiteboard mind mapping
Write down key concepts or problems on a whiteboard. Frequently erase and rewrite or try to recall and explain the content without looking. This visual and physical approach helps reinforce memory through active engagement.
Feynman technique
Teach the material to someone else or explain it as if you were teaching a beginner. Simplifying complex ideas and breaking them down into easy-to-understand terms helps solidify your own understanding and reveal any gaps in your knowledge.
Questions while note-taking
As you take notes, write down questions related to the material. Later, use these questions to test yourself. This active questioning keeps you engaged with the content and enhances your ability to recall information.
Summarize + reflect
After studying, take some time to summarize the information in your own words. Reflecting on and rephrasing what you’ve learned helps reinforce your understanding and improves long-term retention.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Active Recall
When starting with active recall, it’s easy to make a few common mistakes that can reduce its effectiveness.
One mistake is focusing too much on re-reading or reviewing material before trying to recall it. This defeats the purpose, as the goal is to challenge your memory.
Another is not spacing out your practice sessions, which can lead to cramming and poor retention. Some students also try to recall too much at once, leading to frustration. Instead, break down information into smaller chunks. In other words, just use your app religiously. With planned microlearning sessions, you will achieve big goals in little manageable steps!
Finally, don’t skip over content you find difficult. Those are the areas where active recall will benefit you the most.
Active Recall and Spaced Repetition
Speaking of combining study techniques, active recall + spaced repetition is a perfect pair working exceptionally well together.
In fact, this combo inspired the Noji algorithm, which helps students around the world retain information better, faster, and for longer, especially in our ADHD-driven age of cheap dopamine and shortening attention spans.
Here’s how it works. Active recall involves testing yourself on the material to strengthen your memory. Spaced repetition, on the other hand, involves reviewing the material at increasing intervals over time. When you use both techniques together, you first challenge your memory with active recall and then use spaced repetition to review the information at optimal times to keep it fresh. And with a free flashcard app like Noji, you don’t need to worry about scheduling your study sessions because the app automatically spaces out your reviews. It’s a win-win!
Using Flashcards for Active Recall
As already mentioned above, active recall and flashcards are BFFs. Your BFFs. So let’s dive deeper into activating the memory using a flashcard app! We’ll talk about digital flashcards because come on! Analog paper cards are cute when you have very few, but dealing with large volumes of material isn’t a good idea for your mental health.
To make the most of your study time and improve your recall, consider these active recall strategies:
Combine text with pictures.
Visuals create a mental association that makes recall easier. For example, if you’re studying anatomy, pairing the name of a muscle with a diagram can help reinforce the concept more effectively than text alone.
Answer each card out loud.
Verbalizing your answers engages your auditory memory, which is a powerful way to reinforce learning. Speaking the information forces you to process and recall it actively.
Focus on one idea per flashcard.
To avoid confusion and ensure that you truly grasp each concept, limit each flashcard to a single idea. This approach prevents cognitive overload and allows you to concentrate way better.
Sort your cards into three piles.
Noji asks you to provide quick feedback to rate the difficulty of each card. This action becomes automatic as you get used to using the app. It’s needed for proper work with a spaced repetition algorithm.
Reorder and shuffle your cards.
To avoid memorizing the order of the flashcards rather than the content, shuffle and reorder them!
Benefits of Active Recall Studying
If it already sounds like active recall is too cool to be true, let’s unpack even more benefits, so this manic episode never ends. Jokes aside, active recall studying paired with a few other techniques feels like a breath of fresh air after feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
Improved long-term memory retention
Active recall study method isn’t just about remembering information for a test; it’s about making that knowledge stick for the long haul. When you quiz yourself regularly, you’re training your brain to hold onto information more firmly. This means that rather than just cramming and forgetting, you build a deeper, more lasting memory that stays with you long after the exam.
Enhanced understanding
By actively recalling information, you’re not just regurgitating facts; you’re really engaging with the material. This deeper engagement helps you understand concepts better. When you try to retrieve information, you’re forcing your brain to connect dots and see the bigger picture, which for sure leads to a clearer and more thorough understanding of the subject.
Knowledge transfer
Active recall doesn’t just help you remember specific facts; it also enhances your ability to apply what you’ve learned in new situations. When you practice recalling information, you’re improving your ability to transfer that knowledge to different contexts. This means you can use what you’ve learned in one area to solve problems or understand concepts in another, making your knowledge more versatile and practical. In other words, you start owning your knowledge!
Personalized learning
One of the great things about active recall is that it allows you to tailor your study sessions to your own needs. You can focus on the areas where you need the most improvement and skip over what you already know. This personalized approach helps you use your study time more efficiently, targeting the exact areas where you need to grow and reinforcing your strengths.
Active Recall Tips for People on ADHD Spectrum
You may ask, Who isn’t ADHD if the lowering attention span is the objective scientific truth? Let’s leave the suspense to specialized content creators and talk managing active recall studying while experiencing ADHD symptoms (brain fog, procrastination, phone addiction, or whatever you “prefer”).
- Use timers. Set a timer for short, intense recall sessions (5-15 minutes) followed by a few minutes of rest. This creates a sense of urgency and helps maintain focus. Plus, the dopamine is quick, so it’s easier to negotiate with the brain.
- Gamify your recall. Take strikes at Noji or your personal calendar of reviews seriously if not religiously. Again, your brain benefits so much from simple ritualistic achievements such as daily microlearning sessions not missed. It just takes some time to adjust and start feeling a sense of self-trust coming from building the learning habit.
- Peer quizzing. Another way to trick the ADHD brain is to turn learning into partying. Engage in recall exercises with a friend or study group. Explaining concepts out loud to others or answering their questions can deepen your understanding and help you stay on task.
Active Recall Study Method and Exam Preparation
When preparing for exams, the active recall study method can be your secret weapon, especially when combined with some strategic tips. First, make flashcards a core part of your study routine, but don’t just create them for basic facts. Use flashcards to quiz yourself on application-based questions, like solving problems or explaining concepts in your own words. This deeper engagement pushes your brain to think critically, mirroring the exam environment.
Secondly, don’t wait until the last minute to start using a flashcard app. Begin well in advance to allow the spaced repetition algorithm to work its magic. The app will schedule reviews at optimal intervals, reinforcing your memory over time. This way, by the time your exam approaches, the material will feel familiar and easier to recall, making your preparation smoother and more effective.
“Before We Go”
Learning might be the most important soft skill.
By making learning a lifelong habit, we stay strong, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes our way, including digital distractions.
Learning how to learn isn’t nerdy. If you take active recall, it’s almost a punk liberation from mindless cramming: you start owning your study experience by taking responsibility for your understanding.
To create is to remember. To remember is to use Noji.
