Study techniques that actually hold up

Most study advice is folklore. These four techniques are the ones with real evidence behind them — and the mistake people make with each.

Active recall

Testing yourself beats re-reading. Close the book and write down everything you remember, then check what you missed. Re-reading feels productive because the material looks familiar — that familiarity doesn't transfer to a blank exam page.

Spaced repetition

Review material at increasing intervals (a day, then three days, then a week) instead of cramming it all at once. Spacing forces your brain to work to retrieve the memory, which is what makes it stick. A simple flashcard app that schedules reviews for you is enough — you don't need anything fancier.

Interleaving

Mix problem types in one sitting instead of grinding twenty of the same kind in a row (e.g. alternate between three types of geometry problems rather than doing all twenty of one type first). It feels harder in the moment and slower at first, but it's closer to what a real exam actually demands — recognizing which method to use, not just executing one you were already primed for.

The Pomodoro technique

Work in focused 25-minute blocks with a 5-minute break between them, and a longer break after four blocks. The point isn't the exact timing — it's having a defined stopping point so starting doesn't feel open-ended.