A spaced review schedule for exams

Spreading study over time was the top ranked technique among ten reviewed in one large meta-analysis (Donoghue and Hattie 2021), and one of two rated high by Dunlosky et al. 2013. Cramming in one night is a weaker plan than spreading the same hours (Donoghue and Hattie 2021; Dunlosky et al. 2013).

A simple schedule

Start 3 weeks out if you can. For each topic, review on day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14, each time by testing yourself, not rereading.

Day	What to do
1	Learn the topic, then write 5 questions
3	Answer them from memory
7	Answer again; add 3 harder ones
14	Mixed test across topics

This schedule is our suggestion, not a study result. Move reviews earlier for topics you got wrong.

If you have less time

Even 3 sessions spread across a week is the same idea. Do not skip the testing part.