Two plans can take the same time and give very different results. Check each plan against four questions.
| Question | Stronger | Weaker |
|---|---|---|
| Spaced? | Short sessions over several days | One long session |
| Recall? | Closed-book recall, then check | Reread or highlight |
| Mixed? | Kinds shuffled in review | All of one kind at a time |
| Rested? | A full night's sleep | Late-night cramming |
Key idea
More hours don't make a better plan. Better habits do.
Worked example: Worked example
Plan A: highlight the chapter for two hours the night before. Plan B: four 20-minute sessions over a week, each starting with a blank-page recall. Which is weaker, and why?
- A is crammed and uses highlighting, not recall.
- B is spaced and uses retrieval.
Answer: Plan A is weaker: crammed, no recall.
Common mistake
Counting only time. Plan B above uses less time and works better.