Cramming feels effective because material is easy to recall minutes after you read it. The problem is the exam is not minutes away. Spaced repetition solves this by scheduling each review for the moment you are about to forget — the point where re-learning does the most to strengthen memory.
The forgetting curve, working for you
Memory decays predictably. Each time you successfully recall something just before it fades, the next safe interval gets longer: a day, then three days, then a week, then a month. Instead of re-reading everything, you review only what is actually at risk — which is why spaced repetition lets you cover far more material in far less time.
What SM-2 does
The SM-2 algorithm behind most flashcard systems adjusts each card’s next interval based on how easily you recalled it. Rate a card "easy" and it disappears for weeks; rate it "hard" and it comes back soon. Over a few weeks the system quietly concentrates your effort on your genuine weak points.
Combine cards with a question bank
- •Use the question bank to discover what you do not know (and to build exam stamina).
- •Turn every mistake into a flashcard so the correction re-surfaces on schedule.
- •Do your due reviews first each day — they are the highest-value minutes you will spend.
Consistency beats intensity
Twenty minutes of reviews every day will outperform a five-hour weekend binge, because the daily habit keeps every card on its optimal schedule. Show up daily, clear your due cards, and let the algorithm do the bookkeeping.