Discover why spaced repetition boosts memory, saves time, and enhances learning—based on Ebbinghaus’s classic research and modern memory science.
The interval between learning something and repeating it is far more important than most people realize—and yet it’s often overlooked in traditional schooling. While numerous psychology textbooks emphasize the importance of timing in memory formation, very few educational materials apply these findings in practice.
One of the first researchers to highlight this was Hermann Ebbinghaus, a German psychologist who spent years studying the processes of forgetting and remembering. His experiments on memory have been replicated in many countries and continue to shape our understanding of how learning works.
Here’s something we all know intuitively: just because we’ve learned something once doesn’t mean we’ll remember it forever. Someone who once spoke a foreign language fluently may forget nearly all of it after years of disuse. The skill fades—not because it wasn’t truly learned, but because it wasn’t reinforced. Use is repetition, and repetition is the key to long-term retention.
What’s less commonly known is that the timing of repetition plays a critical role in how efficiently we can learn and remember. This concept is known as spaced repetition—repeating information over increasing intervals of time rather than cramming it all into a single session.
Ebbinghaus found that a subject requiring 68 repetitions to master in one day could be learned in just 38 repetitions if spread over three days. In another case, a complex topic that required 504 repetitions in one day could be learned in only 342 spaced repetitions: 158 on the first day, 109 on the second, and 75 on the third. That’s a 32% reduction in effort—without compromising retention.
In other words, spacing out your study sessions not only helps you remember better but also saves valuable time and energy.
How to apply spaced repetition
Whenever you need to learn something new, don’t aim for total mastery on day one. Instead, focus on building a basic understanding. Let it settle in your memory. Then, revisit it over the next few days. You’ll find that what once seemed difficult now comes more easily—and sticks longer.
This process works because the mind continues to function after formal learning has ended. In fact, the brain often continues to consolidate memories while we sleep. That’s why you might wake up with a solution to a problem that stumped you the night before.
Our subconscious plays an active role in this process. It’s not a separate system but a part of our mind that works behind the scenes. Think of the conscious and subconscious as two rooms divided by a sliding wall—thoughts can pass freely between them, especially when aided by association.
You’ve likely experienced this: you’re trying to remember someone’s name but can’t recall it. Later, while doing something unrelated—or after hearing a similar name—it suddenly pops into your mind. The name was there all along, stored just below the surface, waiting for the right cue to bring it back.
Nothing we perceive through our senses is ever truly lost. Impressions may lie dormant in the subconscious, only to resurface when triggered by the right memory, image, or word.
The same principle explains why people under hypnosis can later recall events they seemed to forget. These impressions weren’t erased—they were simply stored in a part of the mind that needed the right stimulus to bring them back.
In summary
Spaced repetition isn’t just a useful study trick—it reflects how memory works. When you space out your learning, you harness both your conscious effort and the subconscious power of your brain. You reduce the number of repetitions needed, increase retention, and allow your brain to do what it does best: quietly strengthen your memories while you’re not even aware of it.
So, next time you’re learning something new, don’t cram. Space it out. Let your brain work with you—not against you..
Edublox specializes in cognitive training and live online tutoring for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other learning challenges. We work with families across the United States, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Book a free consultation today to explore how we can support your child’s learning journey.
Why Spaced Repetition Is Important to Learning and How to Do It was authored by Sue du Plessis (B.A. Hons Psychology; B.D.), an educational specialist with 30+ years of experience in the learning disabilities field.
